Venezuela Closes Embassy in Norway Amid Nobel Peace Prize Dispute
Teh Venezuelan government has shut down its embassy in Oslo, Norway, following the awarding of the nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado, the caracas opposition leader. The Venezuelan embassy in australia has also been closed.
cecilie Ruang, spokesperson for Norway’s Foreign ministry, said Venezuela provided no description for this decision.
She added, “It is indeed unfortunate. Despite disagreements on several issues, Norway remains willing to maintain dialogue with Venezuela and will continue along this path.”
The Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang reported that as of yesterday afternoon, the embassy’s telephone lines have been unresponsive.
This move came three days after Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.As a Western-aligned opposition figure in Venezuela, she has made it her mission to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
Jørgen Watne Frydenlund, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee based in Oslo, praised Machado during the award ceremony for her “tireless efforts to promote democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and her fight for a fair and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
Machado supports U.S. military presence near Venezuelan waters and backing attacks on fishing boats accused by Washington of drug trafficking. She dedicated her Nobel prize to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Tensions between Washington and Caracas have escalated over what the U.S. describes as drug trafficking from Venezuela into American territory.Meanwhile, Venezuela announced plans to open new embassies in Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe.
Following U.S. incursions against its civilian vessels near Venezuelan waters, Caracas stated it considers an armed attack on itself within a short timeframe plausible. President Maduro accused Washington of seeking regime change; meanwhile, U.S. authorities accuse Maduro’s administration of leading drug trafficking networks.
