A handshake that closes a chapter

The meeting between Claudia Sheinbaum and King Felipe VI, held on Thursday 25 June at the National Palace in Mexico City, marked the end of a diplomatic chill that began in March 2019. That was when then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador sent a letter demanding that the Spanish Crown apologize for abuses committed during the conquest of the Americas. The Spanish government rejected the request, and the relationship deteriorated over the following years, with López Obrador even floating a 'pause' in bilateral ties in 2022.

“Fue un reunión muy cordial, él es una persona muy sencilla.”

The indigenous question at the centre

During the one-hour conversation, Sheinbaum put the question of indigenous peoples front and centre. She told the king that 28 million Mexicans self-identify as indigenous and that 69 languages are spoken across the country. Felipe VI listened and noted that one of the working tables at the Ibero-American Summit, scheduled for 4-5 November in Madrid, is dedicated precisely to indigenous peoples.

“The first topic I raised was the topic of indigenous peoples, native peoples. The importance that for Mexico the peoples have.”

The road from confrontation to reconciliation

Several steps paved the way to Thursday's meeting. In October 2025, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares acknowledged the 'pain and injustice' caused to America's original peoples. In March 2026, Felipe VI himself publicly recognized that 'many abuses' and 'ethical controversies' occurred during the conquest, a statement made during an exhibition on indigenous Mexican women in Madrid. Last November, the two governments jointly organized that same exhibition, 'Half the World: Women in Indigenous Mexico,' a political signal that drew criticism from Spain's conservative camp.

In April 2026, Sheinbaum travelled to Barcelona for a gathering of left-wing leaders and met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. These accumulating gestures allowed the king's invitation to Mexico to proceed, something Sheinbaum explicitly linked to the Spanish side's overtures.

“This could not have happened without the approach from their side, including statements that the Spanish right criticizes the King for.”

Beyond the Palace: a World Cup backdrop

The diplomatic page-turn unfolded against the backdrop of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Felipe VI travelled to Mexico to attend Spain's final group-stage match against Uruguay in Guadalajara, scheduled for the night of Friday 26 June to Saturday 27 June. The Mexican Foreign Secretary, Roberto Velasco, greeted the king at Mexico City International Airport before the monarch proceeded to the National Palace. Spanish Foreign Minister Albares accompanied the king and described the meeting as reinforcing the 'fraternal, excellent and intense' relations between the two countries.

What was agreed

Both sides agreed to strengthen bilateral relations for the benefit of their nations. Discussions covered trade, the economy, the international situation, and the importance of the UN Charter, the last point raised by the king himself. Sheinbaum confirmed that the two countries will promote cultural exhibitions in Spain. The Ibero-American Summit in Madrid now serves as the next concrete milestone for cooperation on indigenous issues, with the king expressing interest in working together within that framework.

“Spain and Mexico are united by deep cultural, historical, economic and, above all, human ties.”