The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for her "tireless work promoting democratic rights" against Nicolás Maduro's authoritarian regime. It was a well-earned nod to her courage. Yet, the announcement was overshadowed by the glaring omission of U.S. President Donald Trump, who brokered eight peace frameworks in 2025 alone, saving countless lives. Machado herself highlighted the irony, dedicating her prize "to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause." The White House fired back: "Politics over peace."
Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a Tajikistan summit, praised Trump's "complex crisis" resolutions while slamming the Nobel as having "lost credibility." "He's really doing a lot... for years or even decades," Putin noted, critiquing past awards for rewarding "no achievements for peace." Coming from a figure like Putin, it's a sharp jab, but it underscores a growing sentiment: The Nobel Peace Prize, once a symbol of moral authority, is losing its luster in a world valuing tangible results over symbolic gestures. This post explores Trump's 2025 peace deals, the politics behind his snub, and why the Nobel's relevance is fading.
Trump's 2025 diplomatic efforts include eight significant peace frameworks, achieved through backchannel negotiations, trade incentives, and personal interventions. While the White House claims these "halted endless wars," critics note many are fragile ceasefires rather than permanent treaties. Below is a summary of these efforts:
Egypt-Ethiopia (Nile Dispute), Early 2025: Trump mediated a water-sharing agreement tied to U.S. aid, averting famine and potential conflict over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The pact is signed, and water releases have begun, though it received little Nobel buzz due to its low-profile nature.
Serbia-Kosovo, Spring 2025: Building on Trump's 2020 economic normalisation deal, this expanded agreement added security provisions. It's holding, boosting trade by 15%, but was overlooked as it builds on prior work.
Rwanda-Democratic Republic of Congo (Resource Wars), June 2025: A White House-hosted deal focused on disarmament, refugee returns, and joint economic zones. Implementation is shaky with lingering M23 militia threats, but it has saved lives, earning modest Nobel consideration.
India-Pakistan (Kashmir Line of Control), Mid-2025: Backchannel diplomacy secured a ceasefire and de-escalation framework, leveraging trade incentives. Talks continue, and the ceasefire holds, preventing hundreds of deaths along the border.
Cambodia-Thailand (Border Clashes), July 26-28, 2025: Trump's personal calls after a Scotland summit led to an immediate ceasefire. It's monitored, though violations are alleged, and Malaysia's mediation helped end over 40 deaths.
Israel-Iran (Proxy Tensions), Spring 2025: An informal "shadow deal" reduced Iranian support for Hezbollah and Houthi proxies in exchange for sanctions relief. Attacks dropped 70%, but its informal nature limited Nobel traction.
Azerbaijan-Armenia (Nagorno-Karabakh), August 8, 2025: The White House-hosted "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP) declaration, with U.S. rights to an Armenian transit corridor, ended decades of border closures. The EU called it a breakthrough, making it a strong Nobel contender.
Israel-Hamas (Gaza War), October 8, 2025: A 20-point Gaza Peace Plan's first phase, signed October 8, includes releasing ~20 living Israeli hostages, partial Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza City, full humanitarian aid influx, Rafah crossing reopening, and a U.S.-chaired "Board of Peace" for technocratic governance with Hamas disarmament amnesty. The ceasefire, effective October 10, sparked celebrations in Gaza, Tel Aviv, and Ramallah, though Israeli hardliners threaten coalition stability. With over 60,000 Palestinian and 1,200 Israeli deaths prior, it's a global standout.
These efforts, credited to Trump's direct involvement, range from Oval Office summits to Truth Social pronouncements. The Gaza deal, in particular, stands out: Arab states praised it, and Israeli PM Netanyahu declared, "Trump deserves the Nobel." So why was he passed over?
The Nobel's nomination window closed January 31, 2025, just weeks into Trump's term, predating most deals. Committee chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes deflected: "We'll see next year." Yet, insiders suggest Trump's domestic policies, military deployments in U.S. cities, press restrictions, clash with the Nobel's emphasis on "freedom of expression." His public lobbying also alienated Oslo's reserved committee. Lara Trump vented on Fox: "They hate Donald... Trump Derangement Syndrome." Allies like Senator Marco Rubio, who nominated Machado, called her win a "tribute to resilience," but implied Trump's exclusion was ideological.
Machado's dedication was a bold counternarrative. From hiding in Venezuela, fearing Maduro's crackdowns, she tweeted: "We are on the threshold of victory... I dedicate this prize to... President Trump." Trump's support post-2024 Venezuelan election fraud, calling Maduro's regime a "criminal enterprise," bolstered her cause. Her gesture aligns with Alfred Nobel's will: Advancing brotherhood among nations, disarmament, and peace congresses. Trump's deals fit that mould, yet the committee seems to favour symbolic activism over pragmatic dealmaking.
Putin's critique cuts to the core, labelling the Nobel "irrelevant" for ignoring "achievements." Trump reposted: "Thank you to President Putin!" The Nobel's history supports this: Obama's 2009 award for "diplomacy" preceded his drone escalation; Kissinger's 1973 prize coincided with Vietnam bombings; Arafat's 1994 share ignored PLO violence. Compare this to giants like Teddy Roosevelt (1906, Russo-Japanese War) or Wilson (1919, League of Nations). Recent awards, Liu Xiaobo (2010, jailed dissident), Nihon Hidankyo (2024, anti-nuke survivors), lean performative.
The prize's decline isn't sudden, it's structural. Its opaque process (nominations secret for 50 years) fuels distrust; its blind spots erode legitimacy. In a TikTok age of instant impact, likes for Gaza aid, views for Armenia's breakthrough, the Nobel feels like an outdated dispatch from Oslo. Putin's jab resonates across divides: Hawks and doves alike see it as "politics over peace," elevating activists like Machado (deserving, but narrow) over dealmakers like Trump who shifted battlefields.
Yet, Machado's win offers a silver lining. It spotlighted Venezuela's crisis, 7 million refugees, economic ruin, tying into Trump's hemispheric security push. Her dedication recasts Trump: Not just the brash dealmaker, but a backer of dissidents. Putin's nod hints at 2026 potential, post-deadline, with Gaza's plan fully implemented. X users amplify this: "Nobel who? Trump's got the receipts," one viral post reads.
The Nobel's meaning is fading, tending to irrelevance in a multipolar world. Trump's snub reveals the gap: A prize rooted in ideals versus a reality demanding results. If Oslo doesn't evolve, it risks becoming a historical footnote. For now, Trump's tally, eight deals, millions spared, outshines any medal. Machado's fight continues, her words echoing: "Venezuela will be free." Perhaps the Nobel, too, can break free from irrelevance.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/10/maria-corina-machado-immediately-dedicates-her-nobel-prize/