Which two countries were the first to claim lands in the Americas?

Spain and Portugal were the first two countries to claim lands in the Americas due to their early explorations and conquests during the Age of Exploration in the late 15th century. Following Christopher Columbus's voyage in 1492, Spain established a significant presence in the Caribbean and later parts of North America and South America. Portugal, on the other hand, primarily focused on the eastern coasts of South America, leading to the claim of Brazil.

The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, which divided newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal, sanctioned these claims and set the stage for their imperial ambitions in the New World. This agreement reflects the competition and rivalry between the two powers for overseas expansion. While other European nations like France and England later sought to stake their claims in the Americas, they did so after the initial territories had already been largely established by Spain and Portugal.