The Trump administration is reversing its stance on Chevron’s licence to produce oil in Venezuela, in a significant softening of policy towards the authoritarian socialist government of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Trump administration this year revoked Chevron’s Biden-era license to pump oil in Venezuela, saying that Maduro was not legitimately elected and had refused to accept deportation flights, the Wall Street Journal reported. The move was championed by critics of Maduro’s government, including Rubio.

The United States is preparing to grant new authorizations to key partners of Venezuela's state-run PDVSA, starting with Chevron , to allow them to operate with limitations in the sanctioned OPEC nation and swap oil,