In a significant diplomatic move, Venezuela announced on Monday the closure of its embassy in Norway. This decision comes less than a week after prominent opposition leader María Corina Machado received the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.
Ms. Machado was honored with the prize for what the Norwegian Nobel Committee described as “her tireless work promoting democratic rights,” a commendation that sharply critiques the government of President Nicolás Maduro.
Despite the timing, Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry did not explicitly link the embassy closure to the peace prize selection. Instead, it framed the action as part of a wider strategic realignment of its diplomatic efforts.
In an official statement released on social media, the ministry indicated its intention to reallocate resources, emphasizing a renewed focus on forging alliances within the Global South.
As part of this diplomatic shift, Venezuela also plans to close its embassy in Australia and establish new diplomatic missions in Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso.
These strategic adjustments, officials stated, are designed to “defend national sovereignty and actively contribute to the construction of a new world order based on justice, solidarity, and inclusion.”
Cecilie Roang, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that Venezuelan officials had communicated the closure without providing a specific explanation. She expressed regret over the decision.
Ms. Roang reiterated that “Despite differing views on several issues, Norway remains committed to maintaining an open dialogue with Venezuela and will continue to work toward that goal.”
Meanwhile, President Maduro’s government has faced international criticism for suppressing protests and detaining dissidents, actions that have contributed to a significant exodus of citizens from the country.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration, which has labeled Maduro’s government a “narco-terror cartel,” has increased its military presence in the Caribbean and initiated operations to destroy boats believed by American officials to be involved in drug trafficking from Venezuela.
Ms. Machado has publicly supported President Trump’s Caribbean military buildup, with her party endorsing the targeting of such vessels.
During a Fox News interview last month, Ms. Machado asserted that Mr. Maduro leads a “narco-terrorist structure.”
It is important to note that the Nobel Peace Prize is not awarded by the Norwegian government. The independent Nobel Committee, comprising five members appointed by the Norwegian Parliament, secretly deliberates to select a winner from thousands of nominations.
Thor Halvorssen, CEO of Human Rights Watch, voiced his strong disapproval on social media, describing Venezuela’s embassy closure as “an act of political vengeance, a petulant attempt to punish Norway for daring to honor the woman Maduro and his henchmen most fear.”
Halvorssen further suggested that, symbolically, the embassy closure represents “a retreat from peace itself.”
Norway’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Store, congratulated Ms. Machado last Friday. He noted, “The Norwegian Nobel Committee emphasized that democracy is a precondition for lasting peace. This is an important award that highlights how important it is to fight for fundamental human rights at a time when democracy is under threat.”
Ms. Machado’s political journey began in 2002 when she co-founded Súmate, a voter rights organization. As a conservative former lawmaker, she has consistently challenged Venezuela’s socialist ruling party.
She has been living in hiding since the summer of 2024, following Mr. Maduro’s declaration of victory in an election widely denounced as rigged.
Jonathan Wolfe contributed reporting.