Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize
10 October 2025
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1l80g1qe4gt
This year's Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
The Nobel Peace Prize sometimes displays the calculated and skillful tactics of Sweden's "peace diplomacy," surprising many around the world. This is also why the prize has long been described as "political."
Once again, the Nobel Prize Committee demonstrated truly clever, or perhaps subtle, judgment and choice. It was so skillful that one wonders, "Was it saved up until this year for Machado to receive the award at this particular time, instead of awarding it last year?"
As the US president said to her in a phone call, if she had been awarded the prize last year, it would have had a greater political impact, but she is a natural recipient and it would not be surprising if she received it at any time.
That being said, there will be people all over the world who will have "sinister suspicions."
It was only last month that the US president caused controversy by giving a "Nobel Prize-craving speech" at the UN General Assembly.
It is rumored that US government sources are lobbying for the current president to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. (This in itself is not a mean or greedy act, but quite normal. For example, documents later made public revealed that former Prime Minister Sato Eisaku also lobbied. Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung also lobbied, although former Presidents Carter and Obama did not.)
Furthermore, it was only recently that the US government caused a stir by firing on a Venezuelan ship (a civilian vessel) as part of its "war on drugs."
The timing is simply too good, and the compromise is so perfect, one cannot help but suspect, as noted in the BBC article above, that there may have been some "impurity" in the selection process or the reasons for the decision.
The Nobel Prize, particularly the highly political Peace Prize, receives recommendations from anonymous influential people around the world and carefully considers the candidates. It is unclear whether the events of yesterday and today influenced the final selection.
However, it is certain that the timing was perfect and the most suitable person was selected.
In the past, the committee did not award the Peace Prize to former President Reagan (although it was rumored that Reagan intended to attend the ceremony.). Although Gorbachev received the award, it was not given to former President Bush (Sr.), who arranged the Malta Summit. On the other hand, Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-il both received the award at the same time, as did Mandela and the current South African president.
Former President Carter received the award, but former President Bush (son) was not. His successor, former President Obama, was given the award before he had even done anything.
It would not be unreasonable to think that the above selection and judgment, while not necessarily arbitrary, contain a diplomatic (political) message.
This time, however, the circumstances are different. Russia continues to attack Ukraine, resulting in a steady stream of casualties. Russian military aircraft are repeatedly approaching the airspace of NATO member states such as Estonia and Poland, and Russian drones are violating their territorial airspace, relentlessly engaging in provocative acts.
For Sweden, which was once a "neutral" country, NATO membership is now an urgent priority. In the current somewhat international situation, it is essential to avoid incurring President Trump's wrath.
That said, from the committee's perspective, it would be unreasonable to award the Nobel Peace Prize to President Trump.
At this time, Ms. Machado was the ideal compromise.
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