Venezuela announced it will close its embassies in Norway and Australia and open new missions in Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe as part of a foreign service restructuring aimed at strengthening African alliances.

The government described the closures as a “strategic re-assignation of resources” and said consular services in Norway and Australia will continue through other diplomatic missions.

Norway expressed regret over the embassy closure and emphasized its intention to maintain dialogue with Venezuela.

The decision comes shortly after a Venezuelan opposition activist won the Nobel Peace Prize and amid growing tensions with the U.S, Reuters has reported.

President Nicolás Maduro’s government did not provide detailed timelines but said further information on consular arrangements would be shared in the coming days.