Mexico, Spain move to reset ties as Sheinbaum visits Barcelona summit

BARCELONA: Mexico and Spain signaled a diplomatic reset on Saturday as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum met Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on the sidelines of a progressive leaders’ summit in Barcelona.

The meeting, reported by Spain’s state news agency EFE, took place during Sheinbaum’s visit to attend a gathering of left-leaning global leaders hosted by the Spanish government. Her trip marks the first visit by a Mexican president to Spain in eight years, pointing to a thaw in previously strained relations.

Ties between the two countries had cooled under former Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who in 2019 formally requested an apology from Spain for abuses committed during the colonial conquest of Mexico — a demand Madrid did not accept. Spanish officials welcomed Sheinbaum’s presence as a positive step forward.

Spain’s economy minister described the visit as an important sign of rapprochement, highlighting opportunities to deepen cooperation in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and finance. The renewed engagement suggests both sides are now prioritizing economic collaboration and diplomatic normalization after years of tension.