Jaishankar Highlights Global Order Shift, Zero Tolerance on Terrorism in Talks with Spanish Foreign Minister

New Delhi: During a bilateral meeting in New Delhi with Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of deepening India-Spain relations amid shifting global dynamics.

Jaishankar noted that Spain is a key trade partner for India within the European Union, with bilateral merchandise trade exceeding $8 billion in recent years. He highlighted Spain’s significant presence in India across infrastructure, renewable energy, urban mobility, engineering, water management, and smart city projects, while Indian companies are active in Spain in IT, pharmaceuticals, and the automotive sector.

The minister underlined the need for nations to cooperate on shared global challenges, particularly terrorism, where both India and Spain have been victims. “The world must adopt a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism,” he said.

Make in India and AI Initiatives
Jaishankar also mentioned the Make in India initiative, noting that the final assembly line for the Airbus-Tata C295 aircraft in Vadodara, inaugurated in October 2024, is expected to deliver the first Made-in-India C295 plane by September 2026. Additionally, he highlighted India’s upcoming AI Impact Summit, describing the country’s human-centric, inclusive, and ethical approach to AI, aligned closely with European perspectives.

Spain Strengthens Ties with India
Albares stressed the strategic importance of strengthening ties with India, a country committed to international law, the UN Charter, and multilateralism. He expressed optimism about the finalization of an EU-India Free Trade Agreement and noted that Spanish and Indian companies stand to benefit from stronger economic cooperation.

He also announced that Spanish President Pedro Sánchez will visit India soon, and hoped that Prime Minister Modi could reciprocate with a visit to Spain. Albares further noted Spain’s intention to continue bilateral engagement both through the EU and in multilateral forums, including participation in the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative.