New Delhi, Jan 21 (EFE).– Trade relations between Spain and India, especially in the area of defense, and a strategic alliance in global politics were the focus of the meetings held on Wednesday by Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares in New Delhi, where he traveled at a time when Europe needs “new partners.”
After meeting with his counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and with Indian President Draupadi Murmu, Albares stressed that the two countries were united by “respect for a world order based on international rules,” in a context in which the United States is withdrawing its support from dozens of international organizations.
Along the same lines, Jaishankar highlighted that India and Spain shared respect for multilateralism.
Both mentioned the importance of strengthening trade relations, and Albares emphasized that India was a rapidly growing country, which is emerging as the world’s fourth-largest economy and is already the most populous nation.
The alliance takes on special relevance in the current circumstances, in which “tariffs are being used as a form of coercion” and Europe needs to “diversify its trading partners,” he added.
Albares recalled that, after signing an agreement with Mercosur, which connects markets of more than 700 million people, the European Union was finalizing an even more ambitious pact with India, as it involves 2 billion people.
This treaty is still under negotiation, but “everything indicates that it will be concluded in a few days” and will allow “progress towards a sovereign Europe,” which decides its future based on “independence” from the great powers, according to him.
Albares’ visit on Wednesday precedes Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s trip on Feb. 18 to attend the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, and the announced visits to India by the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and high-ranking representatives from Poland, Italy, and the Netherlands.
To strengthen ties, India and Spain inaugurated the Spain-India Dual Year of Culture, Tourism, and Artificial Intelligence to commemorate 70 years of diplomatic relations and unveiled the logo for an initiative with an extensive program of activities.
Throughout 2026, reproductions of works from the Prado Museum will be exhibited on several streets in different Indian cities, the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi will showcase works by the Spanish artist Antoni Tàpies, Spanish cinema will be featured at the International Film Festival of India in Goa and Indian cinema at the San Sebastián Film Festival, and there will be exchanges between literary festivals.
Spain, which has also proposed a strategic partnership to India that would elevate the diplomatic relationship between the two countries to its highest level, will soon open a third consulate in India, and is working to establish a direct air connection between the two countries.
During his visit, the Spanish minister also met with Spanish business leaders present in India saying that “there is a lot of room for growth in heavy technology, ships, aircraft, and the agri-food industry, among other sectors.”
The Indian foreign minister highlighted the agreement reached a year ago by the Spanish company Airbus with the Indian company TATA for the production of 40 C-295 aircraft, in the largest contract awarded by India in the defense sector.
In the various meetings, the Indian authorities conveyed their condolences to the Spanish people for the train accident on Sunday in which at least 42 people died, and the Spanish flag flew at half-mast with a black ribbon at the headquarters of the Indian foreign ministry. EFE
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