The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, will be absent from the national territory from April 16 to 19, 2026, to make a working visit to Barcelona, Spain, as reported by the Secretariat of the Government through an official letter sent to the Senate. The document specifies that the trip is in response to an invitation from the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, to participate in the 'IV Summit in Defense of Democracy'. Sheinbaum's official trip to Spain. The letter, signed by the Secretary of the Government, Rosa Icela Rodríguez, details that the departure is made under Article 88 of the Constitution, which regulates the absences of the head of the Executive. The document states: 'The Constitutional President of the United Mexican States […] will be absent from the national territory to make a working visit to Barcelona, Spain'. The announcement comes amid an active international agenda for Mexico, including bilateral agreements with the United States and the holding of the 2026 World Cup. It is also established that upon completion of the trip, a report will be sent to Congress with the results and agreements reached. We have just received the Communication from the President @Claudiasheina to this Chamber of Senators and Deputies to inform of her departure from the country, from the 16th to the 19th, to make a working visit and participate in the 'IV Summit in Defense of Democracy' in Barcelona,… pic.twitter.com/FpyV3VmT8h — Laura Itzel Castillo Juárez (@LauraI_Castillo) April 13, 2026 The summit that Sheinbaum will attend is part of an international initiative that emerged in the context of the 2024 UN General Assembly, focused on the defense of democratic systems. According to what the head of state has advanced, the participation of leaders such as the presidents of Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay, and Spain is expected. In her morning conference on April 10, Sheinbaum confirmed her attendance and explained the brief nature of the trip: 'I am going to Barcelona […] in reality, we are going one day and coming back the next'. She also noted that the invitation comes from a group of progressive governments originally promoted by the president of Chile.
