New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Wednesday reaffirmed India’s commitment to deepening its partnership with Spain, highlighting growing cooperation in trade, defence, culture, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Speaking during his meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares in New Delhi, Jaishankar said India and Spain share a strong relationship anchored in democratic values, multilateralism, and support for a rules-based international order. He noted that political engagement between the two countries has steadily expanded through regular high-level exchanges.
The external affairs minister also conveyed India’s condolences over the recent train accident in Cordoba, expressing solidarity with the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery to those injured, according to a statement by the External Affairs Ministry.
Jaishankar pointed out that 2026 marks a significant milestone in bilateral ties, with the two countries celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations. The year will also be observed as a Dual Year of Culture, Tourism, and Artificial Intelligence, aimed at strengthening people-to-people links while promoting collaboration in future-oriented sectors.
As part of the initiative, both ministers jointly unveiled the logo for the Dual Year, selected from more than 1,900 entries submitted through an open competition. In a post on X, Jaishankar described the response as encouraging and reflective of the strong public connection between the two countries.
On economic ties, he said Spain has emerged as one of India’s important trade partners within the EU, with bilateral trade in goods crossing USD 8 billion in recent years. Spanish firms have made a strong footprint in India across sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, urban mobility, engineering, water management, and smart cities, while Indian companies are increasingly active in Spain in IT, pharmaceuticals, and automotive components.
Highlighting defence cooperation, Jaishankar referred to the Airbus–Tata C-295 Final Assembly Line in Vadodara, jointly inaugurated by leaders of both countries in October 2024. He said the first “Made in India” C-295 aircraft is expected to roll out before September this year, calling it a symbol of the growing depth of defence industrial collaboration.
