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The political battle over control of Venezuela has turned to a US$1.8 billion (HK$14.04 billion) stack of gold bars sitting in the Bank of England's vault in London, where a judge is expected to decide soon on who has the rightful claim to the bullion.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says he needs the gold to help his cash-starved nation fight the coronavirus pandemic. But the central bank of Britain, whose government recognizes Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as his country's legitimate leader, has refused to hand it over to Maduro's socialist administration.

A ruling by Justice Nigel Teare, which is expected soon, could help clarify the question of who is Venezuela's legitimate leader, at least in the eyes of one world power, experts say.

"If Maduro is able to get his hands on this money, it weakens a significant tool that the British government has toward implementing its recognition of Guaido,'' said Michael Camilleri, a Venezuela expert at the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue think tank.

The dispute hinges on the British stance toward Venezuela, a country in economic and political crisis where both Maduro and Guaido have been claiming presidential powers for more than a year.

Britain recognizes the claim of Guaido, who heads Venezuela's congress, as do the United States and about five dozen other governments.

Despite its support for Guaido, Britain continues to have diplomatic ties with Maduro

Gold bars can sway Venezuela politics