Oslo: You can’t really miss the timing. Just a few days after prominent Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize, President Nicolás Maduro’s government announced it’s shutting down its embassy in Oslo. The official reason? A simple “restructuring” of its foreign service. But for most international observers this looks like a clear and direct act of retaliation for the award.
Norway’s government seems to be caught in the middle. The foreign ministry said it “regrets” the sudden move, noting that Venezuela gave no reason for closing its doors. A spokesperson, Cecilie Roang made it clear that while Norway wants to keep lines of communication open the Nobel Peace Prize Committee is completely “independent of the Norwegian government.”
The Nobel was awarded to Machado for her “tireless work” fighting for democracy in Venezuela. While it was a huge morale boost for the opposition, Maduro’s regime responded with a mix of public silence and private anger. While there’s been no official statement connecting the dots sources within the government have called the Nobel award a “political provocation.” And just days before the prize was announced, President Maduro himself referred to Machado as a “demonic witch” a favorite insult of his administration.
This move doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s the latest chapter in Venezuela’s growing split from the West as the country faces increasing isolation over its human rights record and questions about the fairness of its recent presidential election.
And it’s not just the Oslo embassy. Venezuela is also closing its mission in Australia calling the whole thing a “strategic re-allocation of resources.” So where are those resources going? The government plans to open new embassies in Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso, nations it calls “strategic allies in the anti-colonial fight.”
What’s the real message here? According to analysts by packing its bags in Oslo, Caracas is sending a clear signal to the West: we’re no longer seeking your approval or playing by your rules. Instead, Venezuela is doubling down on its relationships with allies who also stand against Western influence, even if it means further isolation from Europe.
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