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,

Trump backs Chevron's return to Venezuela oil fields, challenging GOP critics and reversing policy, as U.S. negotiates prisoner releases and limits Maduro's profits.

The move reverses Trump's withdrawal of a permit earlier this year, and could draw criticism from Venezuelans in Florida who fled the Maduro regime.