A Threat from Within? Exploring the Link Between the Extreme Right and the Military

Description:

This policy brief examines the under‑studied issue of extreme‑right extremist links to the military, showing that while such infiltration incidents are rare relative to the size of armed forces, they pose unique risks due to the tactical training, weapons access and social trust conferred upon military personnel. It reviews evidence from countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States to assess whether right‑wing extremists use military service to acquire skills or recruit new members, and it highlights gaps in current counter‑extremism tools within military institutions. The brief concludes with recommendations for strengthening protective screening, disciplinary measures and counter‑extremism capacity inside the armed forces to prevent radicalisation and misuse of military resources.

Link:

Read the document

Language:

English

Date:

11.03.2026

Proposed by:

PPHS

Source:

International Centre for Counter‑Terrorism (ICCT), 2019