OSLO — Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her steadfast commitment to democracy and human rights in Venezuela, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced on Friday.
Machado, a long-time critic of Venezuela’s authoritarian regime, was honored for what the committee described as her “courageous and unwavering fight for democratic freedoms in the face of oppression.” In its citation, the committee stated, “When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize those who stand up to defend liberty, often at great personal risk.”
The decision to recognize Machado comes at a politically charged moment, as former U.S. President Donald Trump had repeatedly claimed in public remarks that he deserved the Peace Prize for his role in various international negotiations. The committee, however, appeared to send a different message by turning its focus toward Venezuela’s democratic struggle rather than U.S. politics.
Analysts had widely predicted that Trump was unlikely to win, noting that his foreign policy and rhetoric had often undermined the international cooperation and multilateralism the Nobel Committee values.
Machado’s recognition highlights the committee’s ongoing emphasis on individual courage in defending democratic rights amid growing global authoritarianism. Her award, observers say, symbolizes international solidarity with Venezuelans seeking political change after years of economic hardship and repression.
The Nobel Peace Prize, carrying a monetary award of 11 million Swedish crowns (approximately $1.2 million), will be presented at a ceremony in Oslo on December 10, marking the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death the Swedish industrialist who established the prize in his 1895 will.
Machado’s win reinforces the Nobel Committee’s tradition of honoring figures who challenge power and inspire movements for freedom a reminder, perhaps, that peace is often the outcome of persistent resistance rather than political rhetoric.
