‘Zero tolerance towards terrorism is essential,’ says S. Jaishankar during meeting with Spain’s foreign minister
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday met Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares in New Delhi. During the meeting, both leaders discussed strengthening India–Spain relations based on shared democratic values, zero tolerance towards terrorism, and expanding economic cooperation.
In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said the world is going through a phase of major change, making it more important than ever for countries to work together on common challenges. He stressed that this is especially relevant in the fight against terrorism, a challenge faced by both India and Spain. He said the global community must show zero tolerance towards terrorism.
Jaishankar noted that India and Spain share warm and friendly relations rooted in democratic values, multilateralism, and respect for a rules-based international order. He also highlighted that both countries will mark 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2026.
He said political engagement between the two nations has steadily increased through regular high-level interactions. The year 2026 will also be celebrated as a joint year of culture, tourism, and artificial intelligence, reflecting a shared effort to connect cultural heritage with future-oriented cooperation.
The External Affairs Minister added that India will host the ‘AI Impact Summit’ next month. He said India’s approach to artificial intelligence is human-centric, inclusive, responsible, and ethical, which aligns well with European perspectives.
Speaking on economic ties, Jaishankar described economic partnership as a key pillar of bilateral relations. He said Spain is one of India’s important trade partners in the European Union, with bilateral trade crossing 8 billion US dollars. Spanish companies have a strong presence in India in sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, urban mobility, engineering, water management, and smart cities. Indian companies are also active in Spain in IT, pharmaceuticals, and automotive components, with scope to further deepen business cooperation.
On defence cooperation, Jaishankar said the first ‘Made in India’ C295 aircraft is expected before September this year, reflecting growing defence industrial collaboration and efforts to build strong manufacturing capabilities.
He also highlighted strong cultural ties, noting the popularity of yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian culture in Spain, along with rising interest in Spanish language and culture in India. Tourism and people-to-people connections, he said, continue to serve as an important and growing bridge between the two countries.