Venezuela Shuts Embassies in Norway, Australia

The move comes days after the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition politician María Corina Machado.

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro speaks during a press conference after casting his vote during the presidential elections at Escuela Ecológica Bolivariana Simón Rodríguez in Fuerte Tiuna, Caracas, Venezuela, on July 28, 2024. Jesus Vargas/Getty Images

Venezuela announced on Oct. 13 that it was closing its embassies in Norway and Australia for a “comprehensive restructuring” of its foreign service and to build closer ties with African nations.

Caracas said in a statement published by Venezuelan government-affiliated newspaper Correo del Orinoco that it aimed to make better use of state resources and “redefine our diplomatic presence in order to strengthen alliances with the Global South, promoting solidarity among peoples and cooperation in strategic areas for mutual development.”