Venezuela is to shut its embassy in Norway – simply days after the South American nation’s opposition chief was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.
In a press release, Nicolas Maduro’s authorities mentioned the nation can even shut its Australian embassy – as a part of a “strategic re-assignation of resources”.
The announcement comes simply days after the Nobel Committee in Oslo introduced Venezuelan opposition chief Maria Corina Machado had received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for combating for democracy within the South American nation.
Ms Machado devoted the prize to US President Donald Trump, at a time of escalating tensions between Caracas and Washington over a number of lethal US army strikes on vessels off its Caribbean coast, which Washington alleges had been carrying medicine.
Each Norway and Australia are US allies.
Norway’s overseas ministry mentioned it had acquired discover of the embassy closure however no cause for the choice.
“This is regrettable. Despite the fact that we have different views on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue with Venezuela open and will work towards that,” a overseas ministry spokesperson instructed Reuters.
“The Nobel Prize is independent of the Norwegian government, and when it comes to questions about the prize, we refer to the Nobel Committee,” the spokesperson added.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
3:13
The Trump administration has claimed to have attacked 4 totally different ships carrying medicine from Venezuela prior to now month.
Kristian Berg Harpviken, secretary of the award physique, instructed Reuters the Venezuelan embassy’s closure was not a problem for the committee.
“For the committee, the task at hand is to select the right Nobel Peace Prize laureate,” he mentioned. “And Maria Corina Machado is certainly a worthy winner.”
Explainer: Who’s Maria Corina Machado?
Comply with the World
Hearken to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim each Wednesday
Faucet to comply with
The Venezuelan authorities mentioned that following the closures in Norway and Australia, new embassies would open in Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe, which had been “two sister nations, strategic allies in the anti-colonial fight and in the resistance against hegemonic pressures”.
The governments of Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso are extra aligned with that of Russia, which has supported Venezuela on the United Nations and accused the US of performing in accordance with “the cowboy principle of ‘shoot first'”.
Caracas mentioned consular companies to Venezuelans in Norway and Australia could be supplied by “diplomatic missions”, with particulars to be shared within the coming days.
