Facade of the Diplomatic Headquarters in Oslo, a Compound Shared by Venezuela and Croatia. Photo: Kjetil Ree.
Guacamaya, October 13, 2025. The Venezuelan government has announced the closure of its embassy in Norway, just three days after the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to opposition leader María Corina Machado.
Although the statement made no mention of the prize, the Foreign Ministry—also announcing the closure of the embassy in Australia and the opening of new missions in Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe—described the move as a “strategic reassignment” and part of a broader “policy to strengthen alliances with the Global South.”
“Venezuela reaffirms that these actions reflect its unwavering commitment to defend national sovereignty and actively contribute to the construction of a new world order based on justice, solidarity, and inclusion,” the government stated in the document.
Regarding Norway and Australia, the Executive indicated that bilateral relations and consular services for Venezuelan communities in both countries will be handled through “concurrent diplomatic missions, whose details will be announced in the coming days.”
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo by an independent committee appointed by the Norwegian Parliament. Last Friday, the prize was conferred upon María Corina Machado, a prominent opponent of Nicolás Maduro’s government, for her “tireless efforts to promote democratic rights for the Venezuelan people and her struggle for a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
Earlier this year, Venezuela’s embassy in Oslo was the target of vandalism and theft, an incident denounced by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto, who referred to the perpetrators as “fascist elements.” Norwegian authorities confirmed the launch of an investigation, though no public results have been disclosed to date.
Norway has previously played a key role as a mediator in Venezuelan politics, particularly since 2019, when it began facilitating negotiation spaces between the Maduro government and the opposition. Its role as mediator has been acknowledged by both sides, who have expressed trust in Norway’s impartiality and discretion in maintaining communication channels.
As for the new diplomatic missions in Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe, the government stated they will serve as platforms for cooperation projects in agriculture, energy, education, mining, and other areas of mutual interest.
