Venezuela closes embassies in Norway and Australia, opens new ones in Africa amid tensions with the West
The decision follows a period of escalating friction between Venezuela and the United States. Washington has accused Venezuelan ships of drug trafficking and carried out military strikes near the Caribbean coast. Venezuela condemned the strikes and appealed to the United Nations, warning that an armed attack could occur in the near future.
Venezuela has announced a major shake-up of its foreign missions, closing embassies in Norway and Australia while opening new diplomatic offices in Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe.
The government described the move as part of a broader plan to redirect resources toward strategic international partners.
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According to President Nicolas Maduro’s administration, consular services for Venezuelans in Norway and Australia will still be available through other missions, with full details to be provided in the near future.
Norway’s foreign ministry acknowledged receiving notice of the embassy closure but said Caracas did not provide a reason.
“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 spokesperson said on Monday.
The announcement comes shortly after Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to advance democracy.
Machado dedicated her award to US President Donald Trump, a move that added international attention to Venezuela’s political scene.
“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 Norwegian foreign ministry spokesperson said.
Kristian Berg Harpviken, secretary of the committee, added that the embassy closures had no bearing on the selection process.
“For the committee, the task at hand is to select the right Nobel Peace Prize laureate,” he said. “And Maria Corina Machado is certainly a worthy winner!”
Caracas described the new embassies in Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe as partnerships with “two sister nations, strategic allies in the anti-colonial fight and in the resistance against hegemonic pressures.”
The government added that these offices would focus on joint projects in agriculture, mining, energy, and education.
The decision follows a period of escalating friction between Venezuela and the United States. Washington has accused Venezuelan ships of drug trafficking and carried out military strikes near the Caribbean coast. Venezuela condemned the strikes and appealed to the United Nations, warning that an armed attack could occur in the near future.
President Maduro has accused the US of attempting to force regime change. At the same time, Washington has branded his government a “narco-state” and established a new counter-narcotics task force under its Southern Command, which oversees operations across Latin America.
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