Venezuela said on Monday it had closed its embassy in Oslo, days after opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
In a statement, the Venezuelan government, which has not commented on Machado’s prize, said that the closure was part of a restructuring of its foreign service.
Caracas also closed its embassy in Australia while opening diplomatic outposts in Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso, countries it considers “strategic partners in the fight” against “hegemonic pressures”, the statement said.
Norway’s foreign ministry on Monday said Venezuela had closed its embassy in Oslo, without giving a reason.
“It is regrettable. Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue open with Venezuela and will continue to work in this direction,” spokeswoman Cecilie Roang told Agence France-Presse in an email.
Phone services at the Venezuelan embassy had been disconnected by Monday evening.
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