Sheinbaum and King Felipe VI meet, mending diplomatic rift between Mexico and Spain

A handshake, expressions of solidarity with Venezuela, and even football talk marked the meeting between Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Spanish King Felipe VI, symbolizing a significant thaw in bilateral relations after years of diplomatic strain.

The Spanish monarch arrived in Mexico City and was received by officials before meeting Sheinbaum at the historic National Palace. Relations between Mexico and Spain had deteriorated significantly in 2019 when then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called on the Spanish Crown to acknowledge alleged "crimes and abuses" during the 16th-century conquest. Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the demand, leading to several years of diplomatic frostiness. The relationship reached a low point when Sheinbaum did not invite Felipe VI to her inauguration, and Spain sent no official representation.

In recent months, both governments had signaled a gradual rapprochement, culminating in the King's visit, which the Spanish Royal Household described as an opportunity to "reinforce the bonds of closeness and affinity that unite both peoples." The private meeting, held without a press conference, occurred as Felipe VI was en route to Guadalajara for the World Cup match between Spain and Uruguay.

Beyond football, the conversation included the tragedy of recent earthquakes in Venezuela. Sheinbaum announced Mexico would send a military rescue team to aid emergency efforts following two powerful tremors that caused significant casualties. The Mexican president affirmed her country's commitment to assisting nations in need. The Spanish Royal Household also conveyed "support, solidarity, and affection to the Venezuelan people" in a statement released before the King's departure for Mexico. Sheinbaum had previously indicated she would raise the issue of recognizing indigenous peoples and their cultural legacy.