On Tuesday, King Felipe VI received four Latin American heads of state and government at the Royal Palace in Madrid for bilateral talks. The guests included Chilean President José Antonio Kast, Honduran President Nasry Asfura, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo de León, and Costa Rican President Laura Fernández Delgado. These meetings took place ahead of the 30th Ibero-American Summit, which is being hosted in the Spanish capital today, November 4, and tomorrow, November 5.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
Through these discussions, the monarch continued his diplomatic engagement with the heads of state and government who had traveled to Madrid for the international conference. The meetings at the Royal Palace (Palacio Real) served as an opportunity for dialogue with the respective delegations and for fostering bilateral relations between Spain and the Latin American nations.
Four bilateral meetings at the Royal Palace
The proceedings began on Tuesday morning with Chilean President José Antonio Kast. Felipe VI welcomed him in the Teniers Room of the Royal Palace – named after the Flemish painter David Teniers the Younger – before they moved on to the Cámara Oficial, where the King received the members of the Chilean delegation.
Kast was accompanied by Foreign Minister José Francisco Pérez Mackenna. The Chilean government subsequently stated that the meeting had reaffirmed the historic diplomatic relations and cooperation between the two countries. Kast also highlighted the close ties between Spain and Chile, as well as the potential for further deepening their friendship.
In the afternoon, Felipe VI received Honduran President Nasry “Tito” Asfura. Following a photo opportunity, the two heads of state introduced their respective delegations and held a bilateral discussion.
This was followed by meetings with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo de León and Costa Rican President Laura Fernández Delgado. Arévalo subsequently described the meeting as an opportunity to reaffirm the historic ties between Guatemala and Spain, and to expand political dialogue and cooperation.
Kast receives an award in Madrid even before the reception with the King
The Chilean presidential candidate’s visit to Spain began as early as Monday. Before his meeting with Felipe VI, José Antonio Kast held talks with Santiago Abascal, the leader of the Spanish party Vox. Subsequently, he was presented with the International Medal of Madrid by Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Autonomous Community of Madrid. This is the regional government’s highest honor, awarded to individuals and institutions of international significance.
In presenting the award, Ayuso commended Kast, specifically highlighting his commitment to freedom and security. The honor was bestowed during his visit to the Spanish capital, ahead of the official events for the Ibero-American Summit.
Ibero-American Summit brings 22 countries to Madrid
The XXX Ibero-American Summit begins today, Wednesday, and will continue through Thursday. The Ibero-American Community comprises a total of 22 states, including Spain, Portugal, the Latin American member countries, and Andorra.
This year’s conference is held under the theme: “Iberoamérica. Juntos construimos nuestra Comunidad. Juntos la proyectamos hacia el futuro y hacia el mundo.” In German, this translates to: “Ibero-America. Together we shape our community. Together we orient it toward the future and the world.”
However, not all 22 countries will be represented by their heads of state or government. According to current plans, only ten top-level representatives will attend in person. In addition to Spain, the countries that will be represented at the highest political level include Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Portugal, the Dominican Republic, and Andorra.
The remaining states are sending representatives such as their foreign ministers or vice presidents. While this ensures that all member countries will be involved in the conference, the number of top-level political leaders participating is significantly smaller than the total number of member states.
Lula, Sheinbaum, and Rodríguez to skip the summit
Among the most prominent absentees are Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez. Their respective countries will be represented by their foreign ministers.
The participation of Argentine President Javier Milei is also drawing attention. His visit to Madrid comes against a backdrop of diplomatic tensions with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. During a previous visit to Spain, Milei had launched a sharp public attack on the head of government. No bilateral meeting between the two is planned as part of the summit.
This brings together political representatives in Madrid who hold, in some cases, differing ideological positions. Nevertheless, the conference is intended to provide a space for dialogue and closer cooperation among the Ibero-American states.
Spain is hosting the summit for the fourth time
For Spain, the event is also significant from an institutional perspective. In 2026, the country will host an Ibero-American Summit for the fourth time. Previous conferences took place in Madrid in 1992, Salamanca in 2005, and Cádiz in 2012.
At the 2024 conference in Cuenca, Ecuador, Spain assumed the *Secretaría Pro Tempore* (pro tempore secretariat) of the Ibero-American Community. This made the country responsible for coordinating and preparing this year’s summit.
The discussions will focus on political, economic, and social relations between Europe and Latin America. The conference aims to foster common positions and strengthen cooperation in areas such as education, science, economics, and international challenges.
