Spain Officially Recognizes Historical Injustices Against Mexican Indigenous Peoples
Spain formally acknowledges the historical injustices inflicted on Mexican indigenous peoples during a major cultural event in Madrid, signaling a key step in improving Spain-Mexico relations.
- • Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares acknowledged historical injustices against Mexican indigenous peoples during an exhibition inauguration in Madrid.
- • The exhibition 'La mitad del mundo' features over 400 indigenous art pieces and runs until March 2026.
- • Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum declared 2025 as the Year of Indigenous Women in Mexico, honoring their cultural contributions.
- • This acknowledgment represents a significant diplomatic moment following past tensions related to colonial grievances.
- • Both countries emphasize mutual respect, cultural rapprochement, and the importance of remembering their shared history.
Key details
Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, formally acknowledged the historical pain and injustices suffered by Mexico's indigenous peoples during an event in Madrid on October 28, 2025. Speaking at the inauguration of the exhibition 'La mitad del mundo. La mujer en el México indígena,' Albares declared, "There has been injustice, it is fair to recognize and lament it," underscoring the importance of recognizing both the burdens and cultural heritage embedded in the shared history between Spain and Mexico. The exhibition, presented at several prominent Madrid venues including the Instituto Cervantes and the National Archaeological Museum, features over 400 pieces of indigenous art loaned by Mexico's government and will remain open until March 2026.
This public recognition marks a significant diplomatic milestone, addressing historical tensions exacerbated by former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's 2019 request for an apology from King Felipe VI regarding colonial abuses, a request that went unanswered. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who declared 2025 the Year of Indigenous Women in Mexico to celebrate their vital contributions, was present at the event. She emphasized the resilience of Mexico-Spain relations despite past tensions, noting that their relationship remains strong.
Albares highlighted the imperative to honor the voices of indigenous women, historically marginalized and silenced, by spotlighting their culture and history through the exhibition. The event also featured participation from key figures such as Luis García Montero, director of the Instituto Cervantes, and Mexican ambassador Quirino Ordaz, collectively emphasizing mutual recognition, respect, and cultural rapprochement. Albares remarked that their shared past includes "shades of light and dark," and stressed that it cannot be denied or forgotten but must be reckoned with honestly to foster better ties moving forward.
The combined cultural and diplomatic initiatives signal an important step toward healing colonial wounds and rebuilding constructive bilateral relations based on truth, respect, and shared cultural heritage.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (2)
Source comparison
Event Date
Sources disagree on the date of the event where Albares spoke.
elpais.com
"The event was the inauguration of the exhibition 'La mitad del mundo. La mujer en el México indígena'."
infobae.com
"The event was the presentation of the Instituto Cervantes' annual report 'El español en el mundo 2025' on October 28, 2025."
Why this matters: The first source states the event took place during the inauguration of an exhibition, while the second source claims it occurred during the presentation of an annual report on October 28, 2025. This discrepancy is significant as it affects the timeline and context of the statements made by Albares.