New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized the need for global cooperation against terrorism, stating that both India and Spain have been victims of terrorism and the world must show zero tolerance towards it. On Wednesday, Jaishankar held talks with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, who is on a visit to India, and stressed the importance of working together on shared challenges.
Jaishankar said, “The world is clearly undergoing a major transformation. It has become more important than ever for countries to work together on common challenges. This is especially true in the fight against terrorism, where both India and Spain have been victims. The world must show zero tolerance towards terrorism.” Jaishankar also highlighted the growing relations between the two countries, marked by regular high-level exchanges and shared democratic values. Significantly, 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. India and Spain are celebrating this milestone with a Dual Year of Culture, Tourism, and Artificial Intelligence. Jaishankar said, “India and Spain share excellent and friendly relations, based on shared democratic values and respect for multilateralism and a rules-based order. Our political engagement has steadily grown, marked by regular high-level exchanges. India and Spain will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations this year, 2026, along with a Dual Year of Culture, Tourism, and Artificial Intelligence. This initiative reflects our shared commitment to connecting our rich cultural heritage with future-oriented cooperation. I am delighted to jointly launch the logo for the Dual Year with you. The logo was selected from over 1,900 entries received through an open competition. I would like to congratulate the teams for this effort and thank all the participants.” Emphasis on enhancing defense cooperation He also highlighted the country’s human-centric approach to AI and growing defense cooperation with Spain, including the production of Made-in-India C295 aircraft. Jaishankar said, “India is hosting the AI Impact Summit next month. Our approach to AI is human-centric, inclusive, and focused on its responsible and ethical use. I think this is similar to the approach taken by Europe. We are confident that the Dual Year will promote greater institutional and industry collaboration. The Airbus-Tata C-295 final assembly line in Vadodara was jointly inaugurated by our leaders in October 2024. We expect the first “Made in India” C-295 aircraft to roll out of the factory before September this year. This demonstrates the growing depth of our defense industry cooperation and our commitment to building robust manufacturing capabilities.”
Spain: A key trading partner of India
He said that Spain is one of India’s key trading partners in the European Union, with bilateral trade exceeding $8 billion. Jaishankar said, “Economic partnership is a crucial pillar of our relationship. Spain is one of India’s key trading partners in the European Union, and our bilateral trade has crossed US$8 billion in recent years. Spanish companies have established a significant presence in India, particularly in infrastructure, renewable energy, urban mobility, engineering, water management, and smart cities. Indian companies are also active in Spain in IT, pharmaceuticals, and automotive components. We see considerable potential to further deepen this business cooperation.”
Cultural Ties Between the Two Countries
Jaishankar also emphasized the cultural ties between the two countries, stating that yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian culture are popular in Spain, while interest in the Spanish language and culture is growing in India. He said, “Our partnership is further strengthened by robust cultural ties. The popularity of yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian culture in Spain, and the growing interest in the Spanish language and culture in India, reflect the deep connections between our societies. Tourism is also an important and growing pillar of our partnership. People-to-people connections serve as a vibrant bridge between India and Spain. We are committed to facilitating greater mobility, educational exchanges, and institutional partnerships.”
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar expressed his condolences over the train accident in Córdoba, Spain, which claimed 40 lives. Jaishankar said, “I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the unfortunate train accident that occurred in Córdoba on January 18. We mourn the loss of lives and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
