Netherlands moves billions in gold to London amid growing geopolitical unrest

LONDON — The Dutch central bank has confirmed that billions of dollars in gold has been taken out of north America and relocated to London, citing "increasing geopolitical unrest".De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) said on Wednesday that it had transferred 86 tons of gold reserves out of a total of 313 tons from the US and Canada to the UK in a complex operation that took several months. It is now being held by the Bank of England, where the precious metal can be traded more easily "in a crisis situation".The move takes place in the context of increasing economic and geopolitical instability, including trade tensions between Canada and the US.Bank president Olaf Sleijpen said the move was "necessary to strengthen our resilience and preparedness".The decision comes amid an ongoing trade dispute between the US and Canada, with both countries announcing fresh tariffs on each other after failed trade talks.DNB said the transfer, which took place between March and August, saw 27 tons of gold bars moved from New York and Ottawa to Zeist in the Netherlands.A similar quantity and quality was then moved to London, with no need to melt the bars down.Exactly how so much gold was transported across t