Venezuela is to close its embassy in Norway – just days after the South American country’s opposition leader was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.
In a statement, Nicolas Maduro’s government said the country will also close its Australian embassy – as part of a “strategic re-assignation of resources”.
The announcement comes just days after the Nobel Committee in Oslo announced Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado had won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for fighting for democracy in the South American country.
Ms Machado dedicated the prize to US President Donald Trump, at a time of escalating tensions between Caracas and Washington over several deadly US military strikes on vessels off its Caribbean coast, which Washington alleges were carrying drugs.
Both Norway and Australia are US allies.
Norway’s foreign ministry said it had received notice of the embassy closure but no reason for the decision.
“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 foreign ministry spokesperson told 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.
