The Spanish government expressed its “surprise” on Wednesday at statements by the president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador asking for “a pause” in bilateral relations, arguing that he felt robbed by Spanish companies.
The Spanish Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albaresexpressed in Lyon (France) his “surprise” at these statements.
“The Spanish government has not taken any action that could justify a statement of this type,” Albares said, according to statements transmitted to the press by his ministry.
The “pause” claimed by López Obrador, reported the Spanish minister, “has no official translation, nor has anything of any kind been officially communicated to us.”
“It would be necessary to ask President López Obrador what he wanted to say,” urged Albares.
“The relationship between Spain and Mexico is a strategic relationship that goes beyond sudden verbal declarations,” continued Albares, before requesting that both governments ensure the proper course of economic investments.
“Far from the pause, what we are talking about is an increase in our business relations that the governments, both governments, must accompany,” he said.
López Obrador unexpectedly proposed this Wednesday a “pause” in relations with Spain, assuring that he does not want Mexico to be seen “as a land of conquest.”
“We don’t want them to rob us,” added the leftist president in his morning conference.
It is not López Obrador’s first brush with Madrid, after in March 2019 he addressed a letter to King Felipe VI demanding that he apologize to Mexico for the conquest, a request that was ignored by Madrid.