Venezuela announced on Monday, October 14, ‌2024, that it would close its embassy in Oslo, Norway, days ‌after‌ opposition leader María Corina Machado ​was awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace​ Prize. The proclamation signals a deepening diplomatic ​rift between the two nations.

In a statement​ released by⁢ the​ Venezuelan government, the closure​ was attributed to a restructuring of its foreign service, with no direct mention of Machado’s prize. ‍ This omission has been widely interpreted⁤ as a‌ deliberate act of⁢ protest against the Nobel Committee’s decision. Reuters ⁣reported on the closure and the ⁤government’s clarification.

Norway’s foreign ministry confirmed the closure of the​ Venezuelan embassy in​ Oslo, also without providing a specific reason beyond‌ acknowledging the notification from Caracas.