Venezuela has announced the closure of its embassy in Oslo, just days after opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her fight for democracy and human rights in the country.
In a statement released on Monday, the Venezuelan government did not directly reference Machado’s recognition, instead describing the move as part of a broader “restructuring” of its foreign service. However, many analysts view the decision as a reaction to the international spotlight on Machado’s work.
Norway’s foreign ministry confirmed the closure, calling it a “regrettable” move. A spokeswoman emphasized that the Nobel Committee operates independently from the Norwegian government. “Despite our differences, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue open with Venezuela,” she said.
The Nobel Committee praised Machado for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela,” describing her as a “key, unifying figure” in a nation facing a deep humanitarian and economic crisis. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, however, denounced her as a “demonic witch,” dismissing the award as politically motivated.
Machado, who has lived in hiding for much of the past year, told BBC Mundo that the prize was “like an injection” of hope and strength for the Venezuelan people.
In addition to shutting its embassy in Norway, Caracas also closed its mission in Australia while opening new diplomatic posts in Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso, which it called “strategic partners in the fight against hegemonic pressures.”
The closures come amid rising tensions between Venezuela and the United States, following recent U.S. military strikes on boats allegedly carrying narcotics from Venezuela, which left 21 people dead.
This latest diplomatic rift recalls the 2010 standoff between China and Norway after the Nobel Prize was awarded to dissident Liu Xiaobo a dispute that lasted six years before relations normalized.
