Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro praised the “small but significant steps” taken by the United States to “license” oil companies to operate in Venezuela as part of the easing of economic sanctions imposed on the South American country.

“A week ago, the United States took small but significant steps by granting licenses to the American company Chevron, the Italian company Eni and the Spanish Repsol to start the process of extracting gas and oil in Venezuela for export,” Maduro said in an interview with an Argentine radio station, excerpts from which were published on President’s funds.

On May 17, the White House announced an easing of some sanctions imposed in 2019 aimed at removing Maduro from power after a controversial 2018 election that led to his re-election. The easing of sanctions took place as part of the strengthening of the dialogue between the authorities and the opposition, which was suspended in October last year and has not yet been resumed.