Mexico is ushering in a new era of cultural and diplomatic cooperation with Spain and France, aiming to repair and strengthen relationships that had previously been strained. Under the leadership of President Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican government is leveraging cultural exchanges, exhibitions, and the return or loan of historic artifacts as tools of cultural diplomacy to build bridges with these European nations.
Relations between Mexico and Spain had seen a downturn during the administration of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The tension was largely sparked by López Obrador’s calls for Spain to acknowledge the historical abuses committed during the conquest of Mexico. However, the arrival of Sheinbaum’s administration marked a shift towards reconciliation, with cultural initiatives gradually paving the way for renewed diplomatic engagement.
Recent years have witnessed a fruitful exchange between Spain and Mexico, with Spain honoring Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide and the National Museum of Anthropology. In return, Mexico loaned over 400 pre-Hispanic artifacts for exhibitions held in Madrid, reinforcing the mutual appreciation of cultural heritage.
Similarly, Mexico’s relationship with France has seen significant improvement after a period of discord, notably marked by the Florence Cassez case during the tenures of Felipe Calderón and Nicolas Sarkozy. The administrations of Sheinbaum and French President Emmanuel Macron have embraced cultural cooperation as a means to mend fences and foster goodwill.
As a testament to this renewed collaboration, France recently loaned the Azcatitlan Codex to Mexico. This historic manuscript, which chronicles the history and migration of pre-Hispanic peoples, is being displayed at Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology and History to commemorate the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.