External affairs minister S Jaishankar met his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares in New Delhi to review cooperation in trade, defence and security. They emphasized collaborating on global challenges and showing zero tolerance towards terrorism. Discussions covered progress in bilateral ties across multiple sectors.
In a meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday, S Jaishankar stated that profound changes in the world order make it more imperative than ever for nations to collaborate on shared challenges. Terrorism, which has impacted both India and Spain, is one such challenge, and the world must show zero tolerance towards it. The two leaders condemned all forms of terrorism and stressed the need to strengthen international cooperation to combat it.
The review of bilateral ties covered trade, investment, defence, security, tourism, and people-to-people relations. Spain is a key trade partner for India in the European Union, with goods trade exceeding $8 billion. Indian companies are active in Spain in IT, pharmaceuticals, and automotive components. Jaishankar highlighted friendly relations rooted in shared democratic values, respect for multilateralism, and a rules-based order. He thanked Spain for supporting deeper India-EU relations and welcomed Madrid's decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
Both sides committed to facilitating greater mobility and educational exchanges. Referring to India's efforts to build resilient manufacturing capabilities, Jaishankar pointed to the joint project to assemble C-295 military transport aircraft in Vadodara. The Indian Air Force is acquiring 56 C-295 aircraft under a ₹21,935 crore deal with Airbus Defence and Space of Spain, with 40 to be built in India. "We are expecting the first ‘Made in India’ C-295 aircraft to roll out of the factory before September this year," Jaishankar said, noting it reflects growing defence industrial collaboration.
Ahead of the AI Impact Summit hosted by India next month, Jaishankar described the country's approach to artificial intelligence as human-centric, inclusive, and focused on responsible and ethical use, similar to Europe's. The ministers discussed recent developments in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, and exchanged views on other shared interests. Marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026, Jaishankar and Albares launched a logo for the 'dual year' of culture, tourism, and AI, selected from 1,900 entries in an open competition.
