Spain and India Deepen Political Partnership Through Eighth Foreign Office Consultations

Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation has strengthened its political relationship with India through high-level diplomatic engagement, advancing cooperation across multiple sectors. The 8th India-Spain Foreign Office Consultations, held in New Delhi on November 13, 2025, demonstrated both nations' commitment to fortifying bilateral ties on the foundation of recent high-level visits and sustained institutional dialogue.​

The consultations, led by Sibi George, Secretary (West) of India's Ministry of External Affairs, and Diego Martínez Belío, Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs of Spain, reviewed the comprehensive spectrum of bilateral relations spanning political, economic, commercial, infrastructure, railways, defence and security, science and technology, cultural, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.​

Strategic Momentum and High-Level Engagement

The renewed intensity of bilateral ties reflects diplomatic momentum generated by President Pedro Sánchez's landmark visit to India in October 2024 and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's visit to Madrid in January 2025. These exchanges have created sustained channels for coordination at the highest levels, positioning Spain and India as strategic partners in addressing shared regional and global priorities.​

Flagship Cooperation: The C-295 Defence Project

Both delegations noted with satisfaction the progress achieved in the bilateral "Make in India" C-295 transport aircraft initiative, a flagship defence collaboration between Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems. The first aircraft is scheduled to be rolled out from the Airbus–Tata final assembly line facility in Vadodara in 2026, marking a significant milestone in joint manufacturing and technology partnership.​

Commemorating Seven Decades of Diplomatic Relations

Looking toward 2026, the two nations have agreed to designate that year as the "India–Spain Year of Culture, Tourism, and Artificial Intelligence," marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations established in 1956. This initiative provides a comprehensive framework for enhancing cooperation in cultural exchanges, technology innovation and tourism sectors.​

Tourism and People-to-People Engagement

Tourism continues to serve as a vital pillar of bilateral relations. Spain attracts approximately 250,000 Indian tourists annually, establishing it among the European nations with the highest footfall of Indian visitors. Reciprocally, over 80,000 Spanish citizens visit India each year, underscoring the robust people-to-people connections between the two nations.​

Multilateral Cooperation and Global Concerns

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the growing India–EU strategic partnership and exchanged perspectives on regional and global developments, including the global fight against terrorism. India reiterated its policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and acknowledged Spain's support for India's candidacy as an Associate Observer in the Ibero-American Conference.​

Areas for Continued Engagement

The delegations confirmed their commitment to maintaining regular institutional dialogue and engagement across priority sectors including trade and investment, defence, science and technology, audio-visual co-production and sustainable urban development. The next round of Foreign Office Consultations will be held in Spain at mutually convenient dates, ensuring the sustained expansion of India–Spain relations in response to evolving global dynamics.