Spain's King Makes "Rare Statement" on Colonial Period Atrocities, Mexico's President Responds

Source: Global Times

【Global Times Report by Bai Yunyi】“King Felipe VI of Spain rarely admits to the country’s colonial atrocities.” According to reports from Reuters and other media outlets, King Felipe VI acknowledged on the 16th that Spain “indeed committed numerous abuses and ethical controversies” during its colonial period in the Americas. This statement is considered very rare, as the Spanish royal family has never officially apologized to former colonies.

From the 16th to the 18th century, Spain ruled one of the largest empires in the world, including most of Latin America. During this period, Spain enforced forced labor, land theft, and violent rule over indigenous peoples. Mexico City was one of Spain’s colonial power centers in the Americas, built directly on the ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán.

On the 16th, local time, King Felipe VI made the above remarks during a visit to an exhibition about Mexican women in Madrid. He admitted to the Mexican ambassador in Spain that Spain “indeed committed numerous abuses and ethical controversies” during its colonial period in the Americas. He also stated that “Spanish colonial laws did not actually operate as initially intended, and there were many abuses.”

Felipe VI said, “Looking at parts of history through today’s standards and values, we obviously cannot be proud.” He also emphasized that it is very important for both sides across the Atlantic to deepen their understanding of shared history.

The Associated Press believes that Felipe VI’s statement has symbolic significance. Spain’s conquest of Mexico led to a large loss of life, and the two countries have had diplomatic disagreements for years. In 2019, the Mexican government demanded an apology from Spain, but it was rejected by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2024, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum refused to invite the Spanish king to her inauguration, citing Spain’s failure to apologize for its colonial history. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized this decision as “unacceptable.”

Spanish media outlet El País analyzed that although Spain and Mexico have deep historical and economic ties, their relationship has been seriously damaged and stagnated since 2019, when Spain’s foreign ministry refused to apologize for colonial history. However, a few months ago, Spain’s foreign ministry began to promote renewed engagement with Mexico. The report also notes that in November this year, Spain will host the Ibero-American Summit, and Felipe VI may be signaling reconciliation and seeking to repair relations with Mexico to pave the way for the summit, especially as the number of heads of state attending has decreased in recent years.

According to the U.S. magazine Highbrow, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum welcomed Felipe VI’s remarks, considering it a meaningful step forward, though she also admitted that it might not meet the expectations of some. Meanwhile, the Spanish king’s comments have once again sparked a long-standing, emotionally charged debate—“How should modern nations confront the violence of colonial conquest?”

The report points out that voices supporting Spain’s full reflection on its history believe that acknowledging historical atrocities is only the first step. Only a formal, national-level apology can effectively repair centuries of historical harm. They note that some countries have issued official apologies for colonial or wartime actions, which, despite not being perfect, have helped improve damaged relations.

Domestic critics in Spain argue that judging 16th-century actions by 21st-century moral standards is unfair, and that colonial conquest cannot be simply reduced to oppressors versus victims. They believe that Spain also established related institutions, cities, and cultural traditions during its colonial period, which still influence Latin America today. Some Latin American countries have rejected this view.

According to BBC, after the king made his remarks, Spain’s Minister of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, José Luis Escrivá, quickly stated that the government “fully supports Felipe VI’s comments.” However, right-wing political groups have historically opposed revisiting Spain’s conquest and colonization of the New World, and their support for the king’s remarks is limited. An MEP from the far-right Vox party even said he was “shocked” by the king’s comments, claiming they align with “those who want to destroy and defame Spain’s history.”

“Felipe VI’s remarks seem to have a positive direct diplomatic impact,” Highbrow commented. However, for historians, indigenous communities, and millions of families across Latin America, this discussion is far from over.