Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Jose Manuel Albares, called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday, reaffirming the deepening ties between India and Spain.
Welcoming the Spanish Foreign Minister, President Murmu noted that India-Spain relations date back several centuries, shaped by trade, cultural exchanges and shared democratic and pluralistic values. She highlighted that 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which is being commemorated as the India–Spain Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial Intelligence.
The President observed that economic engagement between the two nations has been steadily expanding, with growing trade and investment flows. She said Spain’s expertise in engineering, railways, renewable energy, urban services, and defence aerospace aligns well with India’s development priorities. Expressing optimism about the future of bilateral trade, President Murmu said that the proposed India–European Union Free Trade Agreement would further strengthen economic ties between India and Spain.
Highlighting shared global responsibilities, the President said that as firm supporters of multilateralism, India and Spain should continue working closely on platforms such as the United Nations and the G20 to advance common objectives of peace, prosperity and global stability.
President Murmu also underscored the shared commitment of India and Spain to counter terrorism, describing it as a grave threat to international peace and security. She said both countries must pool their resources and capabilities to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Referring to India’s broader engagement with Europe, the President said relations with Europe and the European Union are growing steadily. She added that India is looking forward to welcoming the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission as Chief Guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations.
