Madrid hosts 30th Ibero-American Summit with 22 nations amid political divides
The 30th Ibero-American Summit opened in Madrid with 22 member countries represented. Only 10 heads of state or government attended, reflecting political divisions in the region. Spain prepares for general elections on 29 November as leaders discuss key issues.
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The 30th Ibero-American Summit commenced on Wednesday evening at Madrid’s Teatro Real, bringing together delegations from the 22-member community.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia inaugurated the event, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed the participants. Despite the ceremonial welcome, only 10 countries were represented by their heads of state or government, including Argentina’s Javier Milei, Chile’s José Antonio Kast, and Guatemala’s Bernardo Arévalo.
Notably absent were Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum, and Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez, underscoring political divisions within the bloc ahead of Spain’s general election scheduled for 29 November.
The summit also saw the participation of UN Secretary-General António Guterres and European Council President António Costa. Separately, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Madrid for talks.
Thursday’s agenda includes a plenary session and an official photograph at the Royal Collections Gallery, with Spain mourning 69 victims of a recent train disaster.