Overview
- Caracas ordered its embassies in Norway and Australia closed and said it will open new missions in Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe, with Norway noting Venezuela gave no public explanation for the Oslo shutdown.
- Norway’s Nobel Institute is investigating a surge of wagers on prediction platform Polymarket before the announcement, with its director citing possible espionage and traders reportedly profiting tens of thousands of dollars.
- Norway’s foreign ministry expressed regret over the embassy closure and stressed the Nobel Committee’s independence from the government.
- Commentary across outlets highlighted Machado’s contested record, including her role in the 2002 Carmona episode, links to U.S.-funded democracy programs, and past calls for external pressure on the Maduro government.
- Reporting points to an expanded U.S. military presence and recent boat strikes in the Caribbean near Venezuela, a backdrop analysts say could raise the stakes of how the prize is leveraged politically.