Venezuela blames Norway for Nobel Prize

Venezuela announced it will close its embassy in Oslo on Monday after Maria Corina Machado, a US-backed opponent of Maduro, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize .

Cecile Roang, from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told NRK television that the information about the closure of the Venezuelan Embassy in Oslo was accurate, adding that no reason had been given for the suspension of embassy activities.

Roang stated that Norway has different views with Venezuela on many issues, but they want to continue the dialogue.

Maylem Lauvstad, from the Venezuelan Association in Norway, described the developments as "sad" and said they had not received detailed information.

On the other hand, national media noted that this step was taken after Maria Corina Machado, the US-backed Maduro opponent in Venezuela, was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

It is reported that after the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Machado the Nobel Peace Prize, Venezuela showed its reaction to Norway by closing its embassy.

Meanwhile, Machado, who received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for his fight to defend Venezuela's democratic rights, drew criticism.

It was stated that Machado supported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that he advocated an anti-Muslim stance.

MARINA CORINA MACHADO

Born in 1967, Machado, after studying engineering, assumed the leadership of the liberal center-right party called "Vente Venezuela," which he founded in 2012.

Machado, who has been at the forefront of the opposition against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's administration for many years, pursues politics that emphasizes the themes of "close relations with the West and the United States."

Machado, who was dismissed and given a short prison sentence during nationwide protests against the Maduro government in 2014, is known for defining her political line by supporting Israel.

Diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Israel were severed when former President Hugo Chavez expelled the Israeli ambassador following Israel's attacks on Gaza in 2009.

HE REQUESTED NETENYAHU'S SUPPORT

According to media reports, Machado asked Netanyahu to mediate with the United Nations Security Council for intervention in Venezuela in 2018. The request stated that Machado insisted that he would re-establish diplomatic relations with Israel if he came to power.

Machado, who shared a message of support for Israel on the social media platform account of the US-based X company in 2019, said, "My message to the Jewish people on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel: Venezuela's struggle is Israel's struggle."

The Vente Venezuela Party, led by Machado, signed a "strategic cooperation agreement" with Israel's ruling Likud party two years later, in July 2020.

According to the text published on the party's official website, the agreement includes joint work goals in political, ideological, social, strategic and security areas.

The agreement was signed by Machado and Likud Foreign Relations Director Eli Vered Hazan on behalf of Vente Venezuela.

The text states that the parties aim to develop political cooperation based on shared values ​​such as "freedom, democracy, the market economy, and the rule of law." Furthermore, the agreement envisions establishing an "operative partnership" between the two parties, enabling them to pursue joint projects based not only on theory but also on practical application.

Machado has openly expressed her support for Israel in various interviews and rallies.

Machado gave interviews to Israeli media organizations, in one of which he said, "When I govern Venezuela, my government will move our Israeli Embassy to Jerusalem."

Support for Tel Aviv in Gaza Attacks

Machado expressed his support for the Tel Aviv administration during Israel's genocide against Gaza, starting in October 2023.

Sharing on his social media account on October 7, 2023, Machado emphasized his solidarity with the Israeli people.

During the clashes between Iran and Israel in April 2024, Machado shared the following on the social media platform account of the US-based X company: "I offer my solidarity with the state and people of Israel in the face of the direct attack of the Iranian regime."

CAIR'S REACTION

In a written statement yesterday from CAIR, one of the largest Muslim civil rights advocacy organizations in the United States, Machado, who was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, was warned about her anti-Muslim stance and some other issues.

The statement called on Machado to abandon his "support for European fascism, the Likud Party and anti-Muslim sentiment."

The Nobel Committee's decision to award the prize to "someone who supports anti-Muslim fascism and Israel's racist Likud Party" instead of those who oppose the Gaza genocide was declared "unacceptable."

The statement said, "The Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded to individuals who demonstrate moral consistency by courageously advocating for justice for all people, not to politicians who support racism, bigotry, and fascism abroad while demanding democracy at home."

The Nobel Committee's decision to recognize Machado, despite his support for extremist movements, was "an insult to potential Nobel candidates around the world who stand up for justice," including journalists, activists and politicians who took great risks to fight the genocide in Gaza, the statement said.

In light of this shared information, CAIR officials requested the Nobel Committee to reconsider its decision.

Odatv.com