Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum meets Spain's King Felipe VI during talks aimed at restoring diplomatic relations.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Spain’s King Felipe VI have taken steps to restore diplomatic relations, signalling an end to years of tensions over Spain’s colonial history and opening a new phase of cooperation between the two countries.
The leaders met in Mexico City on Thursday, where they discussed bilateral relations, cultural cooperation, Indigenous history and support for Venezuela following recent earthquakes that claimed at least 235 lives.
After the meeting, Sheinbaum said both countries had agreed to strengthen diplomatic ties and expand cultural exchanges that highlight Mexico’s Indigenous heritage and the historical contributions of Spanish exiles who settled in Mexico.
The meeting marks a significant shift in relations that deteriorated in 2019 after former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador requested an apology from the Spanish Crown for abuses committed during the 16th-century conquest of Mexico.
Spain rejected the request, while King Felipe VI did not formally respond, deepening diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
Relations worsened in 2024 when Sheinbaum excluded the Spanish monarch from her presidential inauguration, prompting Spain to boycott the ceremony.
However, diplomatic relations began to improve earlier this year after Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares acknowledged the suffering experienced by Indigenous communities during the colonial era.
King Felipe also admitted that Spain’s conquest of the Americas involved significant abuses, a statement widely viewed as an attempt to ease historical tensions.
Political analyst Pablo Majluf described former President López Obrador’s handling of the dispute as misguided but welcomed renewed cooperation between the two countries.
He noted that Mexico and Spain maintain deep historical, cultural and economic ties that make stronger relations beneficial to both nations.
Economic relations have also gained momentum. Earlier this month, Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo met business leaders from both countries in Mexico City to discuss plans to double bilateral trade by 2030.
King Felipe travelled with Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and Education Minister Milagros Tolón, underscoring Spain’s commitment to rebuilding diplomatic engagement with Mexico.
The renewed dialogue highlights efforts by both governments to move beyond historical disputes and strengthen cooperation in trade, culture and diplomacy.
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