The Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, will travel to Mexico late on Tuesday, a month after the Mexican president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, pose a “pause” in the bilateral relationshipin a new pulse to Spain.
The minister’s trip seeks to highlight the “good relationship” between the two countries, especially between Albare and the Mexican foreign minister, Marcelo Ebrardand the will to continue strengthening bilateral ties, diplomatic sources have told Europa Press.
“Right now our relationships are not asking for a pause” but to “accelerate” said relationshipAlbares maintained at the time, also emphasizing that “the Government is going to defend its citizens and companies and the good name of Spain before anyone and in any situation.”
AMLOwho has maintained a tense relationship with Spain since taking office, was in favor of a “pause” on February 9, only to clarify the next day that he was not referring to breaking off relations.
“I did not speak of a break,” said the president, in favor of “calming the relationship” so that Spain assumes that it cannot “plunder Mexico with impunity.” “They should even offer an apology. They haven’t, it doesn’t matter, but we are going to enter a new stage, slowly,” he argued.
The Mexican president has been highly critical of the Spanish colonial legacy, demanding on several occasions that Spain apologize for it. In this sense, he sent a letter in March 2019 to the King Philip VI demanding that “the Spanish State admit its historical responsibility” for the offenses committed during the conquest and “offer the appropriate political apologies or compensation”.
trip schedule
López Obrador was particularly critical of the role of the large Spanish companies present in Mexico. In this sense, the agenda of Albares will start on Wednesday precisely with a meeting in the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Mexicoin which both Spanish businessmen with a presence in the Aztec country and Mexicans with investments in Spain will be present.
According to Foreign Affairs data, there are 7,000 Spanish companies in Mexico that generate 300,000 direct jobs and one million indirect jobs, while Mexican companies in Spain have 25,000 million euros in investment.
On the political level, in addition to his meeting with Ebrard, the foreign minister will meet with the president of the Senate and with the head of government of Mexico City, claudia sheinbaum.
Likewise, Albares will hold a meeting with Spanish exiles at the Ateneo Español, offer a speech at the College of Mexico and will meet with the Spanish community in Mexico. There are currently more than 175,000 Spaniards living in Mexico and close to 30,000 Mexicans residing in Spanish territory.
