President Droupadi Murmu welcomed H.E. Mr. Jose Manuel Albares, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the 21st of January, 2026. Centuries of cultural exchange and shared democratic values have forged the relationship between the two dignitaries during their meeting. The meeting is particularly significant as it comes on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral relationship between India and Spain.
To mark this special occasion, the President has chosen to emphasize the celebration of the “India-Spain Dual Year of Culture, Tourism, and Artificial Intelligence,” and his decision is a particularly significant move as it signifies a new level of collaboration between the two nations.
The economic dialogue revolved around the complementarities of developmental agendas in both nations. President Murmu highlighted that Spain’s strengths in key sectors such as railways, renewable energy, urban services, and defense aerospace are perfectly complemented by India’s current developmental priorities. She also showed immense optimism regarding the upcoming India-EU FTA, which she believed would act as a booster for unprecedented growth in trade and investment between the nations.
Both leaders demonstrated their commitment to multilateralism in the international arena. The president highlighted that India and Spain must work together in international forums such as the UN and G-20 to promote international stability. Security issues occupied a significant amount of time, with both nations unifying in their approach to combating terrorism. President Murmu highlighted that we must pool our resources and intelligence to combat this threat in all its forms to achieve international peace.
The president commented on the strengthening relationship between India and the European Union. In a remarkable display of diplomatic camaraderie, the President announced India’s eagerness for its upcoming 77th Republic Day celebrations, during which the President of the European Council and President of the European Commission will function as chief guests, and this marks a new chapter in strategic relations between India and the European continent.
