• Venezuela has closed its embassy in Oslo, Norway, without providing a reason.
• The closure follows Maria Corina Machado's Nobel Peace Prize recognition for promoting democratic rights.
• The Venezuelan government cited the closure as part of a foreign service restructuring.
• Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret while aiming to maintain diplomatic dialogue.
• This move is linked to the government's strategy to strengthen alliances with countries seen as anti-hegemonic.

Venezuela confirmed on Monday the closure of its embassy in Oslo, few days after opposition leader María Corina Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize. Norway's Foreign Ministry expressed regret over the closure, noting that it was enacted without justification. Cecilie Roang, the ministry spokeswoman, stated, "Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue open with Venezuela," according to aa and lemonde.

The Venezuelan government characterized the closure as part of a broader restructuring of its foreign service, which also includes the shuttering of its embassy in Australia while establishing new diplomatic representations in Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso. This strategic move has been labeled an effort to optimize resources and reinforce alliances with nations seen as resisting hegemonic pressures, as reported by scmp and bbc.

The timing of the embassy closure coincides closely with Machado's Nobel recognition, a decision that has not been commented on by the Venezuelan government itself. This award recognizes her "tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela," as stated by Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, according to indiatimes and aljazeera.

Maria Corina Machado, who has been living in hiding due to her criticism of President Nicolás Maduro, dedicated her award to the "suffering people of Venezuela" and to former US President Donald Trump, highlighting his support for her cause. The situation reflects ongoing tensions within Venezuela regarding governance and the democratic process, with Maduro's administration facing criticism for its legitimacy, as indicated by multiple sources, including trtglobal and lemonde.