US President Donald Trump met with oil executives in Washington on Friday, as he pushed for major investments in Venezuela.
But no major financial commitments were immediately forthcoming from the meeting, with the head of ExxonMobil warning the South American country was currently "un-investable".
Trump has said he expects big oil companies to direct "at least" $100bn (£75bn) toward the country, but industry analysts have warned many companies will be reluctant to go into a situation that still carries significant risk.
Last week the US seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who is now being held in jail in New York.
Maduro's second-in-command, vice president Delcy Rodríguez, who is seen as more of a pragmatist, is now interim president.
