The closure of Venezuela’s embassy in Oslo is part of a broader diplomatic shift by the Maduro administration, which has also shuttered its mission in Australia while establishing new embassies in Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso. Caracas described these African nations as “strategic partners” in its struggle against what it termed “hegemonic pressures” from Western powers.
The twin closures, targeting two allies of the United States, come amid heightened tension between Caracas and Washington. In recent weeks, U.S. forces have conducted multiple operations targeting boats allegedly transporting narcotics from Venezuela to American shores, resulting in at least twenty-one deaths. The Venezuelan and Colombian governments, along with several international legal experts, have condemned the strikes as violations of international law.
Analysts view Venezuela’s latest diplomatic decisions as part of its strategy to strengthen alliances with nations outside the Western bloc while distancing itself from traditional partners. The move also signals growing frustration with Western criticism of the Maduro government’s human rights record and the recognition of opposition figures such as Machado.
The situation mirrors a similar diplomatic freeze in 2010, when China severed ties with Norway after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to dissident Liu Xiaobo. Relations between Beijing and Oslo remained suspended for six years before normalizing.
Nobel Committee Chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes described Machado as a “unifying figure” in Venezuela’s fragmented opposition and praised her courage in confronting what he called a “brutal authoritarian state.” The award, he said, highlights the resilience of Venezuelans amid one of the worst humanitarian and economic crises in Latin America.
For Machado, the recognition has not only renewed international attention on Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement but also heightened tensions with a government increasingly isolated on the world stage. As her supporters celebrate a symbolic victory, Venezuela’s diplomatic realignment marks yet another chapter in its ongoing standoff with much of the international community.