Felipe VI Meets Sheinbaum, Signaling Mexico-Spain Reset

King Felipe VI of Spain met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace in Mexico City. The meeting marks the most significant step yet in the normalization of bilateral relations strained since 2019.

Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco received the Spanish head of state upon arrival, with Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating that "Mexico and Spain continue to strengthen their diplomatic ties for the benefit of the relationship and the well-being of their peoples."

The meeting comes after years of friction that began in 2019, when former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018–2024) sent a letter to the Spanish Crown demanding an official apology for colonial-era abuses. Spain rejected the request outright, triggering a prolonged pause in high-level bilateral engagement.

Tensions deepened when Sheinbaum, upon taking office, chose not to invite Felipe VI to her inauguration. This was an unprecedented move that the Spanish government publicly described as unacceptable. Spain responded by sending no official representative to the presidential ceremony.

The immediate occasion for Felipe VI's visit is the FIFA World Cup, with Spain set to face Uruguay in Guadalajara. The king made a brief stop in Mexico City before traveling to the match, a detour that carried clear diplomatic weight.

Sheinbaum acknowledged that the thaw had been building in recent months. She pointed to Felipe VI's visits in Spain to exhibitions dedicated to Mexico's indigenous heritage, and to remarks the king made in which he described the conquest as marked by "much abuse," a characterization that Mexican officials interpreted as a meaningful concession.

"It was a gesture on their part, a very important one. And we took note of that gesture, and so  renewed communication opened up," Sheinbaum said.

Public Opinion Divided

The meeting sparked debate among residents in Mexico City's historic center. Some citizens argued that dialogue and trade cooperation mattered more than a formal apology, given the centuries that have passed since the colonial period (1521–1821) and the mixed heritage of Mexico's present-day population.

"An apology does not hurt anyone, but I think what matters is a good relationship, because that benefits both countries," said citizen Mónica Nájera. "By coming to Mexico, the king is already opening the door to that."

Others held that a formal apology would still carry significant meaning. "I think the apology could be very significant for many Mexicans," said Diana Díaz, describing the meeting as an opportunity to demonstrate unity between two nations that historically regard each other as close.

Kevin Calderón offered a more conciliatory view: "That part of history cannot be erased, in fact, it is a significant part. Some may see it as negative, but there was also development, at the end of the day."