The Government of Nicolas Maduro announced this Monday the surprise closure of its embassy in Norwaya decision supported by a supposed “strategic reallocation of resources” but that occurs just a few days after the Norwegian Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to the Venezuelan opposition Maria Corina Machado.
This is not the only diplomatic turn by the Chavista regime, which will also close its embassy in Australia and open new delegations in Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso. In the opinion of the Maduro Executive, this operation seeks “strengthen alliances with the global south”.
“Venezuela confirms that these actions reflect its unwavering will to defend national sovereignty and actively contribute to the construction of a new world order, based on justice, solidarity and inclusion,” the Chavista Government said in a statement.
María Corina Machado, who lives clandestinely in Venezuela, acknowledged that she will only be able to travel to Oslo in December to collect the Nobel Peace Prize if the Chavista regime is overthrown. “As long as Maduro is in power, I can’t leave the place where I’m hiding because there are direct threats against my life,” he explained.
“I have learned to live day to day, and the Venezuelan people are doing everything in their power” for their future, added the political leader.
The Norwegian authorities have regretted the “unjustified” closure of the Venezuelan embassy. “It’s unfortunate. “Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue open with Venezuela and will continue working in that direction,” he promised. Cecilie Roangspokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Machado assured this Sunday that having received the award “has a very important impact on both Venezuelans and the regime itself,” which “realizes,” he added, that the “whole world legitimizes” the opposition struggle while Maduro “is absolutely isolated and his days are numbered.”
The Venezuelan autocrat continued his smear campaign against Machado, ignoring the granting of the prestigious international award but intensifying his attacks against what he calls a “demonic witch”: “If you want peace, prepare to win it.”
Diplomatic earthquake
Regarding the alliance with Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso, the Maduro Government indicated that it will “proceed to open” new Venezuelan embassies in these countries to strengthen “historical ties with the African continent” and establish “diplomatic missions resident in two sister nations, strategic partners in the anti-colonial struggle and resistance to hegemonic pressures.”
“These embassies will serve as key platforms to promote cooperation projects in agriculture, energy, educationmining and other areas of common interest,” he said.
After the presidential elections of July 28, 2024, whose official result gave victory to Maduro, Venezuela broke relations, in a single day, with Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay, whose governments rejected the proclaimed victory of the Chavista leader, which led to the immediate suspension of diplomatic contacts.
The announcement of the closure and opening of diplomatic headquarters occurs in the midst of the new episode of tensions that Caracas and Washington have been experiencing since August following the US military deployment in the waters of the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela.
The Washington Government defends this deployment as an operation against alleged drug trafficking from the South American nation, while the Maduro Executive insists that it is a “threat” to promote a “regime change.”