India and Spain on Thursday held the 8th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi, reviewing the entire range of bilateral relations and reaffirming their shared commitment to cooperation in trade, culture, technology, and the global fight against terrorism.

The meeting was co-chaired by Sibi George, Secretary (West) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and Diego Martínez Belio, Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs of Spain. Both sides discussed key areas of collaboration, including science and technology, defence, tourism, and artificial intelligence (AI), while also exchanging views on major regional and global developments.

According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who shared details of the talks on X, “The two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral ties, especially in the context of the upcoming India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism, and Artificial Intelligence. They also exchanged perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual concern, including cooperation in the global fight against terrorism.”

India reiterated its policy of zero tolerance toward terrorism, emphasizing the importance of coordinated international efforts to combat extremism.

The consultations built upon recent diplomatic exchanges between the two nations. In October, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar extended warm wishes to his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares on Spain’s National Day, highlighting India’s commitment to deepening its multifaceted partnership with Spain.

Earlier in May, Jaishankar also held a telephonic conversation with Albares to discuss India’s response to cross-border terrorism, following ‘Operation Sindoor’, a targeted strike against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

Diplomatic ties between India and Spain date back to 1956, and the relationship has steadily expanded in areas such as defence, trade, and cultural cooperation. Spain is currently India’s sixth-largest trading partner in Europe, with bilateral trade growing steadily in recent years. The two countries have also strengthened defence collaboration and cultural exchanges through frequent high-level visits and institutional dialogues.

Both sides agreed to continue engaging closely through upcoming ministerial meetings and cultural initiatives to further enhance their strategic and economic partnership.