Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has stated that there is no diplomatic crisis with Spain amid ongoing discussions about the historical context of the Spanish conquest of Mexico. This assertion was made during her arrival at a summit of left-leaning leaders in Barcelona.
There is no diplomatic crisis. There never has been. What is very important is that we recognise the strength of our country's indigenous peoples, Sheinbaum remarked.
The issue of Spain's colonization of Mexico has been contentious, with rising calls for an official apology, which have contributed to tensions between the two nations. The summit aimed to counteract the rise of illiberalism, coinciding with a meeting of far-right leaders in Italy.
Sheinbaum's remarks came just before her meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who did not comment on the current state of relations between Spain and Mexico. However, Spain's economy minister described Sheinbaum's presence at the summit as a very important and positive sign of rapprochement between the two countries.
This visit marks the first by a Mexican president in eight years, following deteriorated relations under Sheinbaum's predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who had demanded that Spain apologize for historical human rights violations during the conquest.
Spanish conquistadors inflicted significant tolls on indigenous populations through both conflict and disease while dismantling the Aztec empire in the 16th century, leading to contemporary demands for acknowledgment and reconciliation.
After López Obrador did not receive a response to his apology request, Sheinbaum notably excluded Spain's King Felipe VI from her inauguration ceremony in 2024, leading Spain to decline sending a representative.
Signs of thawing relations have emerged recently; for instance, King Felipe acknowledged in March that there had been a lot of abuse during the conquest of Mexico, marking a notable recognition of historical wrongs by a Spanish monarch.
Amid these discussions, the leaders of Brazil, Mexico, and Spain agreed to enhance aid deliveries to Cuba, as the island is facing a humanitarian crisis amidst supply shortages.
