This is the first visit of Dr. Jaishankar in Spain as Minister of External Affairs, stressing the growing importance of India-Spain relations in the context of broader world developments.
Dr. Jaishankar met his Spanish counterpart, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Manuel Albares, in Madrid on Monday January 13, 2025) to discuss a range of questions covering bilateral, regional and global concerns.
“Delighted to hold large talks with FM @jmalbarians from Spain today.
Productive conversation on our bilateral partnership, including in trade, investment, defense, security, urban development, railways, green hydrogen, climate action and people’s links. India appreciates Spain as a votary for stronger links and a reliable Mediterranean partner.
Agreements signed on sports and sustainable urban development, ”said Eam Jaishankar on the social media platform X.
In a joint press interaction, Minister Albares stressed the common commitment to strengthen links, in particular in the light of the next Indian-EU bilateral summit. The summit aims to establish a new strategic program between the two regions. The main strengths of discussions included trade and investment, defense cooperation, cultural exchanges and sustainable development.
The ministers have also examined bilateral trade, which currently amounts to around 10 billion euros, emphasizing the expansion of economic cooperation. Promising areas include railways, digital technology, urban development and clean energy. Dr. Jaishankar expressed its eagerness from India to welcome more Spanish companies to participate in initiatives like Make In India and Design in India. With 230 Spanish companies already present in India, this partnership offers immense growth potential.
Discussions have also underlined defense and security cooperation. Managers recognized the achievements in defense, including the recent delivery of C295 military transport aircraft. The two parties expressed their interest in intensifying defense collaborations and promoting stronger naval links, in particular given the growing presence of Spain in the Indo-Pacific region.
Recognizing the era of artificial intelligence, Dr. Jaishankar stressed the importance of qualified professional mobility between the two nations. The opening of a new Indian consulate in Barcelona and the plans for a Spanish consulate in Bengaluru were considered stages to facilitate the stronger connections of people to people. This decision aims to improve the flow of talents and to promote bilateral exchanges in sectors such as technology, education and health care.
By the way, India and Spain have appointed 2026 as the year of culture, tourism and AI. This initiative aims to deepen societal obligations and take advantage of shared technological progress.
India is an increasing development in the Mediterranean region
A key aspect of Dr. Jaishankar’s remarks was India’s growing accent in the Mediterranean region. Stressing the annual trade of $ 80 billion, he noted Indian investments in ports, airports and potential green hydrogen projects. The support of Spain should strengthen the Mediterranean strategy of India, in particular to promote partnerships for sustainable development and energy transition. The Mediterranean, a region of strategic importance, becomes a focal point for the ambitions of the global trade and energy of India.
The ministers have also exchanged points of view on urgent international challenges, including Indo-Pacific stability, the tensions of the Middle East and the Ukrainian conflict.
Recognizing the expansion naval role of Spain in Indo-Pacific, Dr. Jaishankar stressed the importance of collaboration efforts to maintain regional stability. The current situation in the Middle East and developments in Ukraine were also discussed, the two parties arguing for dialogue and peace. These discussions have underlined the shared commitment to take up global challenges and to promote an international order based on rules.
The two parties recognized their history of cooperation in the G20 and United Nations peacekeeping missions, including deployments in Lebanon and Golan Heights. They reiterated the importance of multilateralism and the need for stronger collaboration on global governance issues.
The influential role of Spain within the European Union has also been underlined, Dr. Jaishankar expressing the hope that Spain’s advocacy would strengthen India-EU relations. An India-EU renewed free trade agreement is on the horizon, the support of Spain should accelerate progress. This partnership aims to improve trade, climate action and digital transformation.
Two important agreements were signed during the visit, reflecting the expansion of the scope of bilateral cooperation. The first agreement focuses on sports collaboration, aimed at promoting sports and sports development. The second agreement concerns sustainable urban development, emphasizing the sharing of best practices of urban resilience and green infrastructure.
Dr. Jaishankar also discussed the Indian diaspora in Spain, recognizing their role as cultural and economic bridges. The dynamic Indian community contributes significantly to the Spanish multicultural fabric and to the bilateral partnership. The Minister congratulated his efforts to strengthen the ties between the two nations and underlined government initiatives to support the diaspora.
By concluding the visit, Dr. Jaishankar expressed his optimism about the future of Indian-Spy relationships. “Today’s world may seem volatile, but partnerships like ours – on shared values and converging interests – can stabilize forces,” he said. This visit not only reaffirmed India’s commitment to its partnership with Spain, but has also solidified its strategic vision for a stronger commitment to the European Union and the Mediterranean region.
While the world addresses complex challenges, collaboration between India and Spain promises to be a head of stability and progress.
Dr. Jaishankar’s visit to Spain has prepared the field for a new chapter in bilateral and regional cooperation. With priorities shared in trade, technology, defense and sustainable development, the partnership between India and Spain is about to reach new heights, contributing to global stability and prosperity.
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