Sheinbaum Meets Sánchez in Barcelona — Mexico-Spain Diplomatic Reset After Years of Tension

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for nearly an hour in Barcelona on April 18, on the sidelines of the IV Meeting in Defense of Democracy (a 15-country progressive forum). Sheinbaum declared 'There is no diplomatic crisis, there never was one,' signaling a formal end to years of diplomatic strain between Mexico and Spain. The diplomatic rift dated to 2019 when then-President AMLO demanded Spain apologize for the colonial conquest of Mexico — a request Spain rejected, leading to the recall of ambassadors. The reset was enabled after King Felipe VI offered partial acknowledgment of suffering inflicted on Indigenous peoples during early 2026. Mexico's warm gesture: an official invitation for the Spanish monarch to attend a 2026 World Cup match in Mexico. The reconciliation is diplomatically significant for Mexico as it seeks European support for the USMCA review process and to counterbalance US pressure under Trump.