New Delhi, January 21 (MNN):External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday stressed the need for close cooperation between India and Spain on shared challenges, particularly in combating terrorism, amid a changing global order.

In his opening remarks during a meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares in New Delhi, the External Affairs Minister said, “The global system is clearly undergoing a profound transformation. It has become more important than ever for nations to cooperate on common challenges. This is especially true in the fight against terrorism, where both India and Spain must demonstrate to the world that they have been victims of terrorism.”

Jaishankar emphasized that the two countries enjoy warm and friendly relations rooted in shared democratic values, respect for multilateralism, and commitment to a rules-based international order.

He also noted that India and Spain are marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.
“Our political engagement has steadily grown, as reflected in regular high-level exchanges. In 2026, alongside the 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, India and Spain will celebrate a dual year of cultural tourism and artificial intelligence, reflecting our shared commitment to a future-oriented partnership,” he said.

Highlighting that India will host the AI Impact Summit next month, Jaishankar said India’s approach to artificial intelligence is human-centric, inclusive, responsible, and focused on ethical use, which, he added, closely aligns with Europe’s perspective.

The External Affairs Minister further stated that economic partnership is a key pillar of bilateral relations.
“Spain is among India’s important trading partners in the European Union, and our bilateral trade in goods has crossed USD 8 billion in recent years. Spanish companies have established a strong presence in India, particularly in infrastructure, renewable energy, urban mobility, engineering, water management, and smart cities. There is significant potential to further deepen this business cooperation.”