India-Spain: Must Unite Against Terrorism, President Murmu

India-Spain: Reaffirming India’s unwavering stand against terrorism, President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday underscored the need for India and Spain to jointly confront the global menace, describing terrorism as one of the gravest threats to international peace and stability.

During a meeting with Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President said that India-Spain counterterrorism cooperation must move beyond dialogue and translate into coordinated action, intelligence sharing, and collective capacity building.

“Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations continues to undermine global security,” President Murmu said, adding that both nations share a common outlook on the issue and must pool their resources and capabilities to counter it effectively.

India-Spain: Centuries-Old Ties, Contemporary Priorities

Highlighting the deep historical roots of bilateral relations, President Murmu noted that India and Spain’s ties span centuries and are enriched by trade, cultural exchanges, and shared democratic values. She said this strong foundation positions both countries to work together on contemporary global challenges, including security threats, climate change, and economic resilience.

As firm supporters of multilateralism, the President emphasized that India and Spain should strengthen coordination on platforms such as the United Nations and the G-20 to advance shared goals of peace, prosperity, and global stability.

Economic Cooperation Gains Momentum

President Murmu also drew attention to the expanding economic partnership between the two countries, pointing to growing trade volumes and investment opportunities. She said Spain’s expertise in engineering, railways, renewable energy, urban services, and defence aerospace aligns well with India’s development priorities and infrastructure ambitions.

Expressing optimism over future trade prospects, the President said the signing of the long-awaited India–European Union Free Trade Agreement would further deepen commercial ties between India and Spain. The European Union remains India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods reaching $135 billion in the 2023–24 financial year.

India-Spain: Strengthening India-EU Engagement

The President noted that India’s engagement with Europe and the European Union has been steadily expanding. She confirmed that India is preparing to welcome top European Union leaders as Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are scheduled to attend the celebrations, with both sides expected to formally seal the free trade agreement the following day — a move widely seen as a turning point in India-EU relations.