Sheinbaum personally thanks the King for “Spain’s gestures of recognition of indigenous peoples”

Eduardo González Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum received King Felipe VI at the National Palace on Thursday, thanking him for “Spain’s recent gestures in support of the recognition of indigenous peoples.” The meeting took place just over a year and a half after the diplomatic crisis that erupted between the two countries following the president’s decision to exclude the monarch from her inauguration for not apologizing for the Spanish conquest. During the official welcoming ceremony, held in the Ambassadors' Hall of the National Palace, the national anthems of Mexico and Spain were played. An official photograph of the meeting was then taken, according to a statement from the President's office. Following the official welcoming ceremony, they moved to the Leona Vicario Room, where they held a meeting with their respective delegations. According to the Presidency, the objective of this meeting was "to discuss the relationship between both nations within the framework of his official visit to the country." For its part, the Royal Household stated that the visit took place within a context of intensified bilateral relations between the two countries. The King was received by the President before traveling to Guadalajara to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup match between Uruguay and Spain. At the end of the meeting, they toured the Gallery of Murals, where paintings by the Mexican artist Diego Rivera are exhibited. Representing Spain at the meeting were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares Bueno; the Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Milagros Tolón Jaime; the Chief of Staff to the King, Camilo Villarino Marzo; the Spanish Ambassador to Mexico, Juan Duarte Cuadrado; the Diplomatic Advisor to the King, Carmen Castiella Ruiz de Velasco; and the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Sergio Cuesta Francisco. Representing Mexico were the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Velasco Álvarez; the Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic, Lázaro Cárdenas Batel; and the Mexican Ambassador to Spain, Quirino Ordaz Coppel. During the meeting, according to a statement released by the Mexican government, Claudia Sheinbaum “highlighted Spain’s recent gestures in support of the recognition of indigenous peoples and exchanged perspectives with her counterpart on their importance and cultural richness.” The president and the King “also emphasized the role of culture as a bridge between both nations” and celebrated the work being done to develop a program of exhibitions and cultural activities in Spain, which will highlight the depth of the historical relationship between the two peoples, “including projects dedicated to the Spanish exile in Mexico and to Mexican indigenous cultures.” The two heads of state also “discussed the Ibero-American relationship, the growing trade relationship, and their mutual interest in continuing to strengthen bilateral cooperation on various issues.” “During the cordial and respectful dialogue, President Sheinbaum and King Felipe VI agreed on the importance of deepening a relationship based on the closeness between their peoples, as well as on shared principles, values, and interests,” the Presidency added. “This visit represents a new stage of dialogue and respect between Mexico and Spain, who in 2027 will commemorate 50 years since the re-establishment of their diplomatic relations,” it concluded. For his part, José Manuel Albares posted on social media that Spain and Mexico are “united by deep cultural, historical, economic, and above all, human ties” and continue to strengthen their fraternal and cooperative relations, “projecting our Ibero-American voice and promoting a future of shared prosperity.” During the bilateral meeting, he added, the two sides fostered “the excellent and intense fraternal relations” and reinforced “the brotherhood, friendship, and cooperation in preparation for the upcoming Ibero-American Summit on November 4 and 5 in Madrid.” End of a crisis The bilateral meeting thus marks the symbolic end to a diplomatic crisis that erupted in October 2014, when Claudia Sheinbaum decided to exclude King Felipe VI from the guest list for her inauguration because he had not responded to a letter from his predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, urging him to apologize for the Spanish conquest. The Spanish government called this decision "unacceptable" and announced that it would not participate in the inauguration "at any level." Members of Sumar, the junior partner in the coalition government, attended the event in a personal capacity. The King represents Spain at the inaugurations of Ibero-American presidents, a task that King Felipe has been performing since 1996 when he was still Prince of Asturias. Specifically, the King attended the 2018 inauguration of Sheinbaum's predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The situation began to change a year later, on October 31, 2025, when Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, during an event, referred to the “pain and injustice suffered by Indigenous peoples,” which “is also part of our shared history and we cannot deny or forget it.” Those words, which were discreetly praised by Sheinbaum, outraged the People's Party, which demanded Albares's resignation “if he does not retract his statement immediately.” The next step occurred in mid-March, when the King acknowledged—during a visit to an exhibition accompanied by the Mexican ambassador, Quirino Ordaz—that there was “much abuse” by the Spanish during the colonial period. The Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, fully endorsed the King's words, while the leader of the People's Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, simply expressed his pride in Spain's legacy. The following day, Claudia Sheinbaum praised the King's gesture. In this atmosphere of détente, the Mexican government sent a letter to the Zarzuela Palace in February inviting the King to attend the World Cup, co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The Royal Household received the letter with pleasure, as it exemplified the fraternal relationship between the two countries, and on May 18, King Felipe VI officially announced his acceptance of the invitation. King Felipe will attend the group stage match between Uruguay and Spain on June 26 at the Guadalajara Stadium (Jalisco). On April 18, the Mexican president visited Spain to participate in the IV Meeting in Defense of Democracy and the Global Progressive Mobilization event, both held in Barcelona. During that visit, her first to Spain since the diplomatic crisis, Sheinbaum held a bilateral meeting with Pedro Sánchez. Eleven days later, as part of a tour of Latin America and the Caribbean that included Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, José Manuel Albares delivered an invitation from King Felipe VI to Claudia Sheinbaum to attend the upcoming Ibero-American Summit, to be held in Madrid in November.

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