Mexico Says No Spain Diplomatic Crisis Amid Thaw

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Saturday, June 29, that Mexico is not in a diplomatic crisis with Spain, even after several years of tension between the two countries. She made the statement as she arrived in Barcelona, Spain, to attend a summit of left-leaning leaders. The trip is notable because it is the first visit by a Mexican president in eight years.

Relations have been strained in part by disputes over how the two governments address the legacy of the 16th-century Spanish conquest of Mexico. The relationship worsened in 2019 when Sheinbaum’s predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, asked Spain to apologize for human rights violations during the conquest. Officials said the request did not receive an answer, and the issue continued to weigh on bilateral ties.

The diplomatic friction later showed up in ceremonial and political gestures. Sheinbaum did not invite Spain’s King Felipe VI to her 2024 inauguration, and Spain did not send a representative. Those steps were widely seen as a sign of distance between the two governments, even as both countries maintain broad links through trade, investment, and people-to-people ties.

More recent signals have pointed to a possible easing of tensions. In March, King Felipe VI publicly referred to “a lot of abuse” during the conquest and said some historical actions “cannot make us feel proud.” The remarks were described as the first time a Spanish monarch had made such an admission, and they were followed by indications of renewed engagement between the two sides.

After the king’s comments, Sheinbaum invited King Felipe to the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which Mexico will co-host. The Spanish royal palace confirmed that the invitation was viewed as an opportunity to strengthen ties. Separately, Spain’s Economy Minister described Sheinbaum’s presence at the Barcelona summit as a “very important and positive sign of a rapprochement,” underscoring that officials in Madrid are framing the visit as constructive.

While Sheinbaum rejected the idea of a crisis, the durability and pace of any reset remain uncertain, given the history of unresolved grievances and the sensitivity of the conquest narrative in domestic politics. For now, the public messaging from both sides suggests an effort to reduce friction and reopen channels at the highest level.