Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will not attend a reception hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, according to EFE - Agencia de noticias.
The Spanish government said the invitation came too late, Diario Sur reports, explaining the scheduling conflict behind the decision.
The reception is a customary event Trump holds during the annual gathering of world leaders in New York. Sánchez's absence drew attention in Spanish media, with El Confidencial and La Voz de Galicia both framing the move as a snub toward Trump.
Spain's government, however, pointed to the timing of the invitation rather than any political message. EL PAÍS also reported that Sánchez would not be at the event.
The UN General Assembly brings heads of state and government to New York each September for a week of speeches and bilateral meetings. Receptions hosted by the U.S. president on the margins of the assembly are a regular feature of the diplomatic calendar, giving leaders an informal setting to meet.
Sánchez's decision leaves Spain represented at the gathering without its prime minister at that particular event. It was not immediately clear from the reports who, if anyone, would attend in his place.
What to watch next: whether Madrid or Washington offers further comment on the decision, and how the two governments handle their next scheduled contact.
