• Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar paid an official visit to Spain from January 13-14. This was his first visit to Madrid as Union Minister.

• Jaishankar said India and Spain would mark 2026 as ‘Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial Intelligence’ on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Spain and India.

• Jaishankar’s visit, coming within three months of the visit of President Pedro Sanchez to India, reflects the commitment of both sides for regular and sustained engagement between the two countries, and has led to further deepening of bilateral ties.

Highlights of the visit:

• During the visit, Jaishankar called on King Felipe VI and President Pedro Sanchez. 

• Both sides expressed satisfaction at regular high-level exchanges and interactions, and agreed to capitalise on the momentum generated by the recent visit of President Sanchez to India to further strengthen bilateral ties.

• Jaishankar held a meeting with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares and reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation, and regional and global matters of mutual interest. 

• The ministers expressed satisfaction over the progress in diverse sectors including trade & economy, defence & security, tourism, culture and people-to-people ties. 

• They also discussed ways of increasing collaboration in new and emerging sectors of digital technology, AI, renewable energy, and space. 

• Two MoUs on cooperation in the field of Sports, and cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development were signed during the visit.

India-Spain Bilateral Relations

• Relations between India and Spain have been cordial since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1956. 

• Spain is India’s sixth largest trade partner in Europe. Bilateral trade reached $9.9 billion in 2023. India’s exports stood at $7.17 billion while imports stood at $2.74 billion during the same period. 

• India’s top exports to Spain are mineral fuels, chemical products, iron and steel, textiles, machine and mechanical appliances, seafood, and leather. India’s major imports are mechanical appliances, chemicals, plastic and mineral fuels. 

• Spain is the 16th largest investor in India with cumulative FDI stock of $4.2 billion (April 2000–June 2024).

• There are about 230 Spanish companies in India and nearly 80 Indian companies in Spain.

• Bilateral partnership in defence sector has witnessed rapid growth in recent years. The procurement of 56 C295 aircraft from Airbus Spain in a $2.5 billion contract, 40 of which will be made in India by Tata Advanced Systems, represents the first ‘Make in India’ project in the defence aircraft sector. 

• In 2023, the University of Valladolid and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) signed two MoUs on the establishment of a Chair on Hindi Language and on the establishment of a Chair on Indian Studies at the University.

• The Indian diaspora in Spain is around 75,000, concentrated in Catalonia, Valencia, Madrid and Canary Islands.

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