Noble Peace Prize for the year 2025 has been announced by the Norwegian Noble Committee. The prestigious prize had been bagged by the Venezuelan activist Maria Corina Machado, for tirelessly working towards championing the democratic rights. She has also played a vital role in peacefully transitioning the country from dictatorship to democracy. “The Noble Peace Prize for 2025 goes to a brave and committed champion of peace, to a woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness”, the Noble Peace Prize committee announced in its statement.
BREAKING NEWS
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2025 #NobelPeacePrize to Maria Corina Machado for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to… pic.twitter.com/Zgth8KNJk9— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 10, 2025
The interesting aspect in the current cycle of the Noble Peace Prize is that the US President Donald Trump has been denied the peace prize, despite relentlessly demanding for it. Since Trump came to office in January 2025, he has been continuously pleading for a Noble Peace Prize and has apparently made a self-declaration that he has ended more than seven wars since assuming power in his second term of presidency. Incidentally, his baseless claims of ending wars also include the conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025, i.e. Operation Sindoor.
The denial of the Noble Peace Prize for Donald Trump, stirs doubts regarding the credibility or authenticity of his claims towards ending wars and establishing peace. For example, with respect to the India-Pakistan conflict, New Delhi has multiple times clarified that India doesn’t entertain a third party meditation in a bilateral issue. EAM Jaishankar has set the record straight by reiterating that there was no phone conversation between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump from April 22 to June 17, hence no question of Trump mediation. India, thus has outrightly rejected the claims of Trump that he ended India-Pakistan hustle by bringing in threats of tariffs and other economic sanctions.
On the other hand, Trump is finding it increasingly difficult to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Despite his repeated negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, the war is escalating and no sign of truce. Even the latest Gaza peace plan initiated by Trump to end the Israel-Hamas conflict is in its early stages and the complete success of the peace plan has to be awaited. The peace process initiated in March ended abruptly due to mutual suspicion and both Israel and Hamas began bombing.
What does the Noble Prize committee say on Trump’s assertions?
When asked about the denial of Noble Peace Prize for Trump Jorgne Watne Frydnes, the chair of the Norwegian Noble Committee asserted, “In the long history of the Nobel Peace Prize, I think this committee has seen any type of campaigns, media attention. We receive thousands of letters every year of people wanting to say what for them leads to peace. This committee sits in a room filled with the portraits of all laureates, and that room is filled with both courage and integrity. So, we base our decision only on the work and will of Alfred Nobel,”
Theo Zenou, research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society said, “There’s a huge difference between getting fighting to stop in the short term and resolving the root causes of the conflict”. She further added that Trump’s perception on the climate action, green energy etc. doesn’t align with the goals and ideals of the Noble Committee. “I don’t think they would award the most prestigious prize in the world to someone who does not believe in climate change. When you look at previous winners who have been bridge-builders, embodied international cooperation and reconciliation: These are not words we associate with Donald Trump”, Zenou said.
The democratic saga of Maria Corina Machado
Maria Corina Machado is the epicenter of the pro-democracy movement in Venezuela. She has strongly stood and fought against the authoritarianism in Venezuela. In 1992, she established the Atenea Foundaton for the welfare of the street children in Caracas. She was one among the founders of Sumate, for promoting free and fair elections. Her relentless work gained her a seat in the national assembly in 2010, where she won record number of votes. However, the authoritarian regime expelled her from the post in 2014. However, her consistent effort in nurturing pro-democracy environment in the country didn’t stop.
This year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado has led the struggle for democracy in the face of ever-expanding authoritarianism in Venezuela. Ms Machado studied engineering and finance, and had a short career in business. In 1992 she established the Atenea… pic.twitter.com/OtFF6NPuGl
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 10, 2025
The Noble Prize Committee reiterates that Maria Machado wins the Peace Prize for predominantly promoting democracy in Venezuela. However, her victory is a symbol for global democracy. It’s an alarm and the wakeup call to the world-nations to work towards restoring and rebuilding democracy across the globe, especially in an era where democracy is in retreat internationally and conduction of the free and fair elections have been difficult.
