Venezuela's Maduro calls for 'complete lifting' of oil sanctions

Venezuela's president has called on the US to fully lift its sanctions on the country's oil sector, saying the easing of an oil embargo on his country by the United States was not enough.

Speaking at a press conference, Nicolas Maduro called Washington's move a step in the "right direction."

But the move was "not enough for what Venezuela demands, which is the complete lifting" of sanctions against its oil industry, he said.

According to Press TV, over the weekend, the United States granted energy giant Chevron a license to resume some oil operations in Venezuela.

The move came after the government of President Nicolas Maduro and the country's opposition reached a long-delayed "social protection agreement." 

The agreement focused on education, health, food security, flood response, and electricity programs.

The country began going through a downward spiral of poverty as well as social and developmental stagnation in 2018, when the West -- led by the United States -- and its favored Venezuelan opposition contested Maduro's victory in presidential elections.

Following the election, Western countries began imposing Caracas with a slew of illegal sanctions, which have been responsible for spawning the dire economic situation in the country. 

Washington's apparent efforts to gratify Caracas comes amid the West's struggle to wean itself off Russian oil supplies.

ME