Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Spanish King Felipe VI have used the World Cup as a backdrop to ease diplomatic tensions between their countries. The two leaders, who were photographed shaking hands warmly, discussed football and expressed solidarity with Venezuela following recent earthquakes. Sheinbaum wrote on X that they discussed the importance of Indigenous peoples throughout history and agreed to strengthen bilateral relations for the benefit of both nations.
Background of the Diplomatic Rift
Diplomatic relations between Mexico and Spain chilled in 2019 when then-president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Sheinbaum's political mentor, wrote a letter to the Spanish crown requesting recognition of 'crimes' committed during the 16th-century conquest. King Felipe VI never responded, and the Spanish minister of foreign affairs defended the shared history between the countries, rejecting the idea of an apology. This led to years of diplomatic tension, including Sheinbaum not inviting the king to her inauguration in 2024 and Spain declining to send a representative to the ceremony.
Steps Toward Reconciliation
Both parties have taken positive steps over the past year to mend relations. King Felipe VI visited Sheinbaum in Mexico City while en route to Guadalajara, where Spain will play against Uruguay in the group phase of the World Cup. Last March, during a visit to an exhibition in Madrid about Indigenous women in Mexico, the king publicly admitted that there was 'a lot of abuse' during the colonial conquest. This admission soon led to Sheinbaum inviting him to attend the World Cup, which Mexico is co-hosting with the United States and Canada.
Economic and Cultural Ties
The reconciliation is also driven by the strong economic and cultural ties between the two countries. In early June, dozens of Spanish and Mexican businessmen joined Spanish Minister of Economy Carlos Cuerpo for a meeting in Mexico City, where they sought to discuss doubling bilateral commerce by 2030. Spain has also granted numerous awards to Mexican personalities and institutions, which have been interpreted as subtle gestures towards reconciliation.
Political Context
The meeting between Sheinbaum and King Felipe VI comes amid a broader political context. In April, Sheinbaum traveled to Barcelona at the invitation of Spanish President Pedro Sanchez to participate in a summit of leftist leaders to discuss the aggressive policies of US President Donald Trump. This visit was seen by some analysts as a mistake, as it aligned her with other leaders opposed to Trump, such as Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
