Caracas will close embassies in Norway and Australia, and instead open new ones in “anti-colonial allies” Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso, amid rising tensions with the United States.
Venezuela Reorients Diplomacy: Closing Embassies in Europe, Opening in Africa
The Venezuelan government announced on Monday that it would close its embassies in Norway and Australia, while opening new ones in Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso.
The statement said it was part of a “strategic reallocation of resources” in foreign policy. Consular services for Venezuelans in Norway and Australia will be provided through other diplomatic missions — the government promised to provide details soon.
Tensions with Washington and “anti-colonial allies”
The decision comes amid worsening relations between Caracas and Washington. Last week, Venezuela appealed to the United Nations after a series of US airstrikes on ships off its coast, which the US called part of an anti-drug operation.
President Nicolas Maduro has said the United States is preparing a “change of power” in the country. Washington has responded by calling him the “illegitimate leader of a narco-state” and announcing the creation of a new anti-drug task force under the Southern Command.
In a statement, the Venezuelan government called Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso “sister nations and strategic allies in the fight against hegemony.”
The new embassies, Caracas said, will focus on joint projects in agriculture, energy, education and mining.
Norway’s reaction: “It’s a shame, but the dialogue will continue”
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed receiving an official notification about the closure of the embassy, but without explaining the reasons.
“This is regrettable. Despite our differences, we strive to maintain dialogue with Venezuela,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
Interestingly, Caracas’ decision coincided with the announcement in Oslo of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado, who dedicated the award to US President Donald Trump.
