Venezuela announced on Monday the closure of its embassy in Oslo, following opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Venezuelan government stated in a release that the closure is part of a foreign service restructuring, though it has not commented on Machado’s award.
Additionally, Caracas shut down its embassy in Australia and opened new diplomatic missions in Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso, countries it deems “strategic allies” against “hegemonic pressures,” according to the statement.
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Norway’s foreign ministry confirmed the closure of the Venezuelan embassy in Oslo, with no explanation provided.
“It’s unfortunate. Despite our differences, Norway wishes to maintain open dialogue with Venezuela and will pursue this,” spokeswoman Cecilie Roang told AFP via email.
By Monday evening, phone lines at the Venezuelan embassy were disconnected.
This decision by Venezuela comes three days after Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.
Machado was barred from participating in the 2024 presidential election, where Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner amid opposition protests.
On Sunday, Maduro, without addressing Machado’s Nobel award, called the 58-year-old laureate a “demonic witch,” a term frequently used by the government.
Machado was recognized “for her relentless efforts in promoting democratic rights for Venezuelans and her quest for a peaceful transition to democracy,” said Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
Roang emphasized that “the Nobel Prize is independent of the Norwegian government.”
Machado dedicated her Nobel to “Venezuela’s suffering people” and US President Donald Trump, citing his “crucial support for our cause.”
On Monday night, she called for an inquiry after two Venezuelan activists were shot and wounded in Bogota, Colombia.
Identified as Luis Alejandro Peche and Yendri Velasquez, the activists were attacked while about to board a bus, according to Bogota police.
Machado stated on X that they were “hunted” by “Nicolas Maduro’s dictatorship.”
