On Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the need for global cooperation against terrorism, noting that both India and Spain have been victims and the world must show zero tolerance. He made these remarks during talks with Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares in Delhi, underlining the importance of collaboration on shared challenges.

“The world order is undergoing profound changes. It is more important than ever for nations to work together on common challenges, especially in combating terrorism,” said Jaishankar. He also expressed condolences for the train accident in Cordoba on January 18, which killed at least 40 people, and extended sympathies to the families of the victims. The crash involved two trains traveling between Malaga and Madrid, and Madrid and Huelva, carrying around 500 passengers in total.

Highlighting growing India-Spain ties, Jaishankar pointed to regular high-level exchanges, shared democratic values, and the upcoming 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026, which will coincide with the Dual Year of Culture, Tourism, and Artificial Intelligence. He noted the recently launched logo for the Dual Year, selected from over 1,900 entries.

Jaishankar also stressed India’s human-centric approach to AI and deepening defense cooperation, including the production of Made-in-India C295 aircraft through the Airbus-Tata partnership in Vadodara, with the first aircraft expected before September 2026. He noted Spain is among India’s top trade partners in the EU, with bilateral trade exceeding $8 billion, and highlighted active cooperation in sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, urban mobility, IT, pharmaceuticals, and automotive components.

Jaishankar underlined the strong cultural and people-to-people ties between the countries, noting the popularity of Yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian culture in Spain, and growing interest in Spanish language and culture in India. Tourism, educational exchanges, and institutional partnerships continue to strengthen this relationship.