The key facts

  • The 30th Ibero-American Summit was opened in Madrid by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia
  • Of the 22 countries in the bloc, only ten sent heads of state and government
  • The absence of Lula da Silva, Claudia Sheinbaum and Delcy Rodríguez is linked to political disagreements ahead of Spain's elections on 29 November

Opening ceremony with incomplete representation

On Wednesday evening, at Madrid's Teatro Real, King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia officially opened the 30th Ibero-American Summit. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed the delegations arriving from the 22 countries of the community, but the ceremonial reception contrasted with the actual level of representation: heads of state and government came from only ten countries, Euronews reports.

Who came and who stayed away

Among the seven Latin American presidents present, the report named Javier Milei (Argentina), José Antonio Kast (Chile) and Bernardo Arévalo (Guatemala). The absence of several key figures — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Venezuelan acting president Delcy Rodríguez — is linked by Euronews to political disagreements ahead of Spain's general elections scheduled for 29 November.

Guests outside the format and the summit programme

UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President of the European Council António Costa attended the opening. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also arrived in Madrid, but for separate talks outside the summit's agenda. A plenary session and an official photograph at the Gallery of Royal Collections are scheduled for Thursday; the summit is taking place against the backdrop of national mourning for the 69 people killed in last week's railway disaster.