India, Spain review expanding bilateral partnership ahead of 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties
New Delhi, November 13. India and Spain held the eighth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi, reaffirming their commitment to deepen cooperation across diverse sectors as the two countries prepare to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026.
The Indian delegation was led by Sibi George, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, while the Spanish side was headed by Diego MartÃnez BelÃo, Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs in Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs following the talks on November 13, during the consultations, both delegations reviewed the entire range of bilateral cooperation, covering political, economic, commercial, infrastructure, railways, defence and security, science and technology, and cultural ties. The two sides expressed satisfaction over the steady progress of the ‘Make in India’ C-295 transport aircraft project, a flagship initiative in India-Spain defence collaboration. The first aircraft is expected to roll out from the Airbus-Tata final assembly line in Vadodara next year, marking a milestone in joint manufacturing and technology transfer.
Looking ahead to 2026, the two sides agreed to celebrate the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial Intelligence, which will coincide with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The initiative is expected to further strengthen bilateral exchanges in creative industries, technology innovation and tourism.
Cultural and people-to-people ties remain a strong pillar of the partnership. Spain continues to be one of the most popular European destinations for Indian travellers, welcoming about 250,000 Indian tourists annually, while over 80,000 Spaniards visit India each year – a number that continues to grow with greater air connectivity and mutual interest in heritage and wellness tourism.
India and Spain also reviewed cooperation in multilateral forums, with both sides expressing satisfaction at the growing India–European Union strategic partnership. The delegations exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the global fight against terrorism. India reiterated its policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, and thanked Spain for its support in India’s bid to join the Ibero-American Conference as an associate observer.
Bilateral ties between New Delhi and Madrid have witnessed a renewed momentum following Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s visit to India in October 2024 and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Spain in January 2025. These high-level exchanges have paved the way for greater cooperation in trade and investment, defence, science and technology, audio-visual co-production and sustainable urban development.
Both sides agreed to maintain the tempo of engagements and institutional dialogues to sustain this positive trajectory. The next round of Foreign Office Consultations will be held in Spain on mutually convenient dates.
India and Spain established diplomatic relations in 1956, and over the decades, have built a multifaceted partnership anchored in shared democratic values, innovation-driven economies, and a commitment to global peace and development.
