With a handshake, Spain and Mexico put diplomatic tussle over colonial past behind them
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez ended a diplomatic dispute over Spain's colonial past with a handshake and conciliatory remarks during Sheinbaum's visit to Barcelona.
- The conflict originated in 2019 when Mexico demanded Spain officially acknowledge abuses during the conquest, which Spain initially refused, leading to strained relations including Spain's absence from Sheinbaum's 2024 inauguration.
- Spain's King Felipe VI helped resolve tensions in March by publicly recognizing the abuses suffered by indigenous peoples during the conquest of the Americas.
- Following this reconciliation, Mexico invited the Spanish monarch to a World Cup match, and Sheinbaum and Sánchez held a private meeting to discuss strengthening Mexico-EU relations.
- Both leaders expressed a commitment to advancing cultural, economic, and social ties, with Sheinbaum agreeing to host the next pro-democracy summit in Mexico.
