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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and King Felipe VI of Spain met on Thursday at the National Palace in Mexico City, marking the first bilateral encounter between the two leaders and signaling a normalization of relations after years of diplomatic tension Source: La República; Infobae. The meeting, which Sheinbaum described as "cordial," focused on the importance of indigenous peoples, cultural ties, and the future of bilateral cooperation Source: La República; El Español.
The visit comes after a seven-year hiatus in high-level exchanges, triggered by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's demand for an apology from the Spanish Crown for abuses during the Conquest Source: Excélsior; El País. Tensions persisted when Sheinbaum did not invite the king to her inauguration in 2024 Source: Infobae. However, a thaw began in March when Felipe VI acknowledged "much abuse" during the Conquest, a gesture Sheinbaum called "a very important step" Source: Infobae; Milenio.
Sheinbaum was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Roberto Velasco, presidential chief of staff Lázaro Cárdenas Batel, and Mexico's ambassador to Spain, Quirino Ordaz. The Spanish delegation included Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and Education Minister Milagros Tolón Source: Heraldo de México; Diario Libre. The ceremony featured national anthems and an official photo Source: La Jornada. The king then traveled to Guadalajara to attend the .
“La presidenta Sheinbaum calificó la reunión como 'cordial' e informó que conversaron, entre otros temas, sobre los vínculos entre México y España.”
“Felipe VI llega a México este jueves para asistir a un partido de la selección española en el mundial de fútbol y reunirse antes, y por primera vez, con la presidenta mexicana, Claudia Sheinbaum, en lo que supone una normalización de la relación bilateral.”
“La presidenta de México, Claudia Sheinbaum, ha recibido este jueves al rey Felipe VI en el Palacio Nacional en Ciudad de México, una cita que representa un paso firme en la normalización de las relaciones entre ambos países.”
Both sides emphasized a new era of cooperation, with the Spanish Foreign Ministry highlighting a "firm commitment to democracy and multilateralism" Source: La Jornada. Analysts see the meeting as a reset that could lead to increased trade and investment, with a goal to double bilateral commerce by 2030 Source: La República.
“El encuentro de esta tarde es la primera reunión del rey con la Presidenta de México y representa el inicio de una nueva etapa marcada por la normalización en la relación bilateral, tras la 'pausa' en que la puso el expresidente López Obrador.”