BOGOTA (Reuters) -A meeting on Monday night between Colombia President Gustavo Petro, U.S. charge d'affaires John McNamara and Colombia's recalled ambassador to the U.S. Daniel Garcia-Pena was a first step toward healing a bilateral impasse, Colombia's foreign ministry said early on Tuesday.

President Trump called Colombia's president an "illegal drug leader" and pledged to end U.S. aid to the country, following the leader's criticism of U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats.

Some federal employees may not receive a paycheck this Friday due to the government shutdown. And, tensions between Colombia and the U.S. continue to rise as the respective leaders clash.

"Daniel Garcia-Pena, Ambassador of Colombia in the United States of America, has been recalled for consultations by President Gustavo Petro and is now in Bogota," the Colombian foreign ministry said. "In the coming hours the national government will inform of the decisions taken."

President Donald Trump threatens Colombia with tariffs after President Petro challenges U.S. Caribbean strikes targeting alleged narco-terrorists, escalating tensions.

President Donald Trump on Sunday announced he was cutting all federal funding to Colombia amid a deepening row between the right-wing populist American leader and socialist President Gustavo Petro.

The United States has launched military strikes on seven suspected drug trafficking vessels since September, killing at least 32 people.