Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met in Barcelona on Saturday, signalling a renewed phase in relations between the two countries after years of diplomatic tension linked to Spain’s colonial past.
Their encounter took place on the sidelines of the fourth ‘In Defence of Democracy’ summit, a gathering of progressive leaders from around 15 countries aimed at countering the rise of illiberal and far-right movements. ALSO READ: World’s progressive leaders gather in Barcelona to defend democracy in shifting global order.
The visit marked the first trip by a Mexican president to Spain in eight years and reflects a broader effort to rebuild ties that had cooled since 2019.
Relations between Madrid and Mexico City had deteriorated under former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who formally requested that Spain apologise for abuses committed during the colonial era. That demand, addressed to both Spain’s monarchy and the Vatican, was not met at the time, fuelling a prolonged diplomatic dispute.
Speaking upon her arrival at the summit, Sheinbaum sought to downplay tensions. ‘There is no diplomatic crisis, there never was one,’ she said, before emphasising historical recognition: ‘The important thing is to recognise the efforts of the indigenous people of our land.’
Later, after meeting Sánchez, she added: ‘There has already been a rapprochement from both the Spanish president and the king himself, which we acknowledge,’ while reiterating Mexico’s position on acknowledging colonial-era abuses.
A key turning point came earlier this year when King Felipe VI publicly recognised that Spain’s conquest of the Americas led to the ‘abuse’ of Indigenous populations – an unprecedented gesture that helped ease the dispute. ALSO READ: Spain’s King Felipe VI acknowledges ‘much abuse’ in the conquest of the Americas.
The monarch had previously declined to issue a formal apology, a stance that contributed to a diplomatic low in 2024 when he was not invited to Sheinbaum’s inauguration, prompting Spain to break with tradition by not sending a representative. ALSO READ: Spain boycotts Mexican president’s inauguration due to King Felipe snub.
Recent gestures on both sides suggest a thaw. Mexico has since invited Felipe VI to attend a World Cup event this summer, while Sheinbaum also invited the Sánchez to attend the next edition of the ‘In Defence of Democracy’ gathering, scheduled to take place in Mexico next year.
Spain’s Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo described Sheinbaum’s presence as ‘a very important and positive sign of a rapprochement between the two countries’, highlighting opportunities to strengthen cooperation in areas such as energy, infrastructure and finance.
Sánchez and Sheinbaum later held a private meeting lasting nearly an hour. Writing on social media platform X, the Spanish leader said: ‘I spoke with president Sheinbaum about global affairs and the importance of advancing the relations between Mexico and the European Union. We are in agreement in continuing to strengthen our special cultural, economic and social ties.’
While Sánchez avoided publicly revisiting the earlier diplomatic dispute during the event, the tone of the meeting—and the symbolism of Sheinbaum’s visit – pointed to a deliberate effort by both governments to move beyond historical tensions and reinforce bilateral cooperation.
Enjoying the news from Spain in English? Add us as a preferred news source in Google.
Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English.
He conversado con la presidenta @Claudiashein sobre la situación global y la clave de avanzar en las relaciones UE – México.
Compartimos una gran sintonía sobre cómo continuar estrechando nuestros tan especiales lazos culturales, económicos y sociales.
Es una gran noticia que… pic.twitter.com/5AVtdVou8S
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) April 18, 2026
Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY.