Venezuela Seeks Return of £4.2 Billion in Gold from UK

The Venezuelan government and opposition have reached an unexpected agreement to work together to recover 31 tonnes of gold worth €4bn from the Bank of England. The funds are needed to support reconstruction efforts after a devastating earthquake on June 24 that left over 6,000 people dead.

According to a joint statement by both delegations, the release of the assets is conditional on 'all necessary planning and control mechanisms' under a plan focused on housing, health centres, and schools in affected areas.

The gold has been tied up in a legal dispute since 2018 when the UK stopped recognizing Venezuela's government. The Bank of England declined to comment, saying it is waiting for a legal ruling before releasing the bars.