Key meeting between Sheinbaum and the king of Spain
President Claudia Sheinbaum will meet this Thursday at 4:00 p.m. with King Felipe VI at the National Palace. The meeting took place after the monarch attended Mexican cultural exhibitions in Spain, a gesture that the president described as positive.
Sheinbaum stated that he wants to explain to the head of the Spanish State the relevance of the recognition of indigenous peoples and their cultural greatness. “These are issues that I want to talk to him about and tell him why it is important for Mexico, beyond the moment of requesting forgiveness,” he declared in his morning conference.
Context of the diplomatic relationship
Former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador sent a letter to the Spanish Crown apologizing for the wrongs committed during the Conquest. According to Sheinbaum, the Spanish government took the request “as an offense” and then waged a campaign against López Obrador.
For this reason, when Sheinbaum assumed the presidency he did not invite the king to the swearing-in ceremony. However, the president stressed that relations were never broken. “The relationship continued in tourism, trade… with Spain and with the Spanish government as well, with President Sánchez,” he clarified.
The turn occurred when Felipe VI visited the exhibitions of the Museum of Anthropology and indigenous women, and took photographs with representatives of indigenous peoples. “It was a very important gesture and we consider it,” added the president.
Issues on the bilateral agenda
Sheinbaum described the meeting as “cordial” and announced that sports issues will be addressed within the framework of the 2026 Soccer World Cup. The president stressed that she will also talk about the constitutional changes that guarantee full recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples.
“What I want to explain to you is what that means for Mexico, the recognition of the native peoples of their cultural greatness,” he reiterated. The meeting represents a new chapter in the Mexico-Spain relationship, marked by previous tensions but with a clear intention of diplomatic rapprochement.




