The Trump administration revoked Chevron’s Biden-era license to pump oil in Venezuela earlier this year. The move was championed by hard-line critics of Maduro’s government, including Rubio and key Florida Republicans in Congress, whose support Trump needed for his domestic policy package.

In a marked shift in U.S. policy toward Venezuela, the Trump administration has quietly approved a new license allowing oil giant Chevron to restart its operations in the South American nation, according to sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations.