Venezuela Closes Embassies in Norway and Australia Amid Rising Tensions with the US

In response to escalating tensions between Venezuela and the United States, Venezuela has decided to shut down its embassies in Norway and Australia while simultaneously establishing new diplomatic missions in Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe. Venezuelan officials described this move as part of a “strategic reallocation of resources” within the framework of restructuring the country’s foreign service.

According to Venezuela’s Foreign Relations Department, consular services in Norway and Australia will henceforth be managed by other diplomatic delegations. Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed receiving official notification of the embassy closures from Venezuela but emphasized that no specific reasons for the decision have been provided. Norway, which does not maintain an embassy in Caracas, conducts its diplomatic affairs with Venezuela through its embassy in Bogotá, Colombia.

A spokesperson for Norway’s Foreign Ministry expressed regret over the decision, stating: “Despite differences on certain issues, Norway wishes to keep the channels of dialogue with Venezuela open and will continue to strive in this direction.”

This shift in Venezuela’s foreign policy occurred shortly after the announcement of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, awarded to María Corina Machado, a prominent Venezuelan opposition figure recognized for her fight for democracy in the country. Machado dedicated the prize to Donald Trump, President of the United States.

Regarding the connection between this decision and the Nobel Peace Prize, a Norwegian Foreign Ministry spokesperson underlined that the prize is independent of the Norwegian government and that inquiries on this matter should be directed to the Nobel Committee. The committee’s secretary also stated that the closure of Venezuela’s embassy does not hinder their ongoing activities, affirming that the selection of Machado as laureate was the right decision.

Caracas’s recent closure of diplomatic missions in countries with established democracies has raised concerns among global political oversight bodies. While economic and organizational motives have been cited, the timing in relation to political developments and the Nobel Prize has prompted extensive analysis and speculation.