External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Wednesday to discuss enhancing bilateral ties across trade, investment, defence, technology, and education, along with strengthening people-to-people connections. Jaishankar expressed appreciation for Spain’s support in deepening India-EU relations and welcomed Spain’s participation in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
In a statement on X, EAM Jaishankar highlighted that discussions covered “wide-ranging topics, including trade, investments, defence, technology, education, and people-to-people ties” while reaffirming the “strong political dialogue” between the two countries. He also noted Spain’s backing for broader India-EU cooperation across multiple sectors.
Jaishankar underscored the importance of closer collaboration on global challenges, especially counter-terrorism, given both nations’ experiences as victims. “The world order is undergoing profound change. Nations must work together on shared challenges, particularly combating terrorism. The world must maintain zero tolerance toward terrorism,” he said.
Emphasizing the long-standing friendship between India and Spain, rooted in shared democratic principles, Jaishankar highlighted the upcoming 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026. He also mentioned India’s AI Impact Summit next month, stressing that India’s approach to artificial intelligence is human-centric, inclusive, and ethically guided, closely aligning with European standards.
Economic ties remain a major pillar of the bilateral relationship. Bilateral trade between India and Spain has surpassed $8 billion, with Spanish firms active in infrastructure, renewable energy, urban mobility, water management, and smart city projects in India, while Indian companies operate in Spain’s IT, pharmaceuticals, and automotive sectors. Both sides see opportunities to further expand business collaboration.
Minister Albares praised India as a reliable international partner and called for accelerating the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signaling a significant step in strengthening ties. He announced Spanish President Pedro Sanchez’s upcoming visit to India and expressed hope for Prime Minister Modi’s future visit to Spain. Albares also delivered Spain’s formal commitment to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, marking a key milestone in bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
