India-Spain Relations Deepen at 8th Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi
India and Spain conducted the 8th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi on Thursday, where both nations reaffirmed their dedication to strengthening ties across various sectors including politics, economy, technology, and culture.
The discussions were led by Sibi George, Secretary (West) in India's Ministry of External Affairs, and Diego Martinez Belio, Spain's Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs. The delegations reviewed current collaborations and considered new opportunities to enhance their strategic partnership.
A significant topic was the progress of the 'Make in India' C-295 transport aircraft project, a joint effort by Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems. Officials announced that the first aircraft from the Vadodara final assembly line is expected to be completed next year, marking a key achievement in India’s domestic aerospace manufacturing efforts.
In celebration of 70 years of diplomatic relations, both countries agreed to designate 2026 as the 'India–Spain Year of Culture, Tourism, and Artificial Intelligence'. This initiative seeks to enhance cooperation in cultural exchanges, tourism, and digital technology advancements.
Tourism remains a robust area of engagement, with Spain drawing approximately 250,000 Indian tourists annually, and over 80,000 Spanish citizens visiting India each year.
Strategic matters and multilateral coordination were also discussed. Both nations expressed support for bolstering the India-EU strategic partnership and shared perspectives on global issues such as terrorism, security, and sustainable development. India reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on terrorism and expressed gratitude to Spain for backing its candidacy as an Associate Observer in the Ibero-American Conference.
The consultations emphasized sustained diplomatic momentum following the visit of Spanish President Pedro Sánchez to India in October 2024 and the trip of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Madrid in January 2025.
Priority areas for ongoing cooperation were identified, including defense collaboration, scientific and technological partnerships, film co-production, sustainable urban development, and innovation. Both nations acknowledged the importance of regular institutional dialogues to foster resilient and forward-thinking relations.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to hold the next round of consultations in Spain at a mutually agreed date, highlighting the steady growth of India-Spain relations in an increasingly dynamic global environment.
