Overview

• Caracas announced the closures and new African posts as part of an “integral restructuring” of its foreign service.
• The foreign ministry said the changes seek to optimize state resources and strengthen ties with the Global South.
• Norway’s foreign ministry confirmed it was notified of the Oslo shutdown without a reason and described the move as regrettable.
• Local reports said the Oslo embassy stopped answering calls and its phone lines were disconnected, while Venezuela said consular services will shift to concurrent missions with details to come.
• The decisions came days after opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize, with coverage also linking the diplomatic reshuffle to broader tensions with the United States.