Venezuela has formally appealed to King Charles III for the release of around 30 tonnes of frozen gold held at the Bank of England, saying the assets are urgently needed to support reconstruction after one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters.
Speaking on state television on Wednesday, interim president of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez said, "She had written to the British monarch requesting that the gold, which remains frozen under UK sanctions, be made available for emergency recovery efforts.”
Rodriguez also said that the reserves belonged to the Venezuelan people and should be used to help communities affected by the recent earthquake.
“We need this gold to deal with the consequences of the earthquake,” she said, adding that the funds would help finance rebuilding and provide support for those who have lost their homes and livelihoods.
The appeal follows last month’s twin earthquakes, which caused widespread destruction across parts of Venezuela.
According to official figures, at least 3,800 people have died, while thousands more have been left homeless or remain missing. The disaster also destroyed large numbers of residential buildings and damaged critical infrastructure, creating significant humanitarian challenges.
The gold has been kept by the Bank of England for several years and remains inaccessible because of sanctions and legal restrictions linked to Venezuela’s political situation.
The latest request places humanitarian concerns at the centre of an ongoing dispute over the country’s overseas assets.
There has been no immediate response from Buckingham Palace or the UK government regarding the appeal.
As rescue operations continue and recovery efforts gather pace, Venezuelan authorities say access to the frozen reserves could provide much-needed financial support for rebuilding devastated communities and restoring essential public services.
