At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, H.E. Mr. Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain, is paying an official visit to India from 18–19 February 2026 to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026. This is his second official visit to India, following his bilateral visit from 27–29 October 2024. He was accompanied by Mr. Óscar López Agueda, Minister for Digital Transformation and Civil Service, and Mr. Luis Planas Puchades, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain.
Prime Minister Modi and President Sánchez held bilateral talks and reviewed the entire gamut of India–Spain relations, including trade and investment, technology, infrastructure, climate and renewable energy, defence and security, space, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. The leaders welcomed the positive momentum in bilateral cooperation and expressed happiness at the progress in Tata–Airbus collaboration for C-295 transport aircraft Final Assembly Line at the Vadodara facility, jointly inaugurated by them in October 2024. They stressed on importance of defence industrial collaboration based on co-development and co-production as way forward.
Both Leaders emphasised the high potential of India–Spain Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial Intelligence, being celebrated this year to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, in further promoting bilateral technology, innovation, business and people-to-people ties.
President Sánchez highlighted the importance of the AI Impact Summit and expressed confidence that its outcomes would contribute meaningfully to shaping global AI governance. The two leaders recognised artificial intelligence as a transformative force and underlined the need for closer India–Spain cooperation to leverage its potential for inclusive development and societal benefit.
They also discussed the potential of cooperation in the field of education, especially in light of India’s New Education Policy. In this context, they welcomed the Conference of Vice-Chancellors of Indian universities and Rectors of Spanish universities, being held in New Delhi on 19–20 February 2026. Both leaders noted the continued impressive growth in two-way tourism which is contributing to greater economic activities in their respective countries and furthering peoples ties. PM Modi invited leading Spanish universities and institutions, particularly in STEM and technology fields, to open campuses in India under New Education Policy.
The two leaders exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including Spain’s decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. They hailed the conclusion of India-EU FTA negotiations as a major milestone which would help in unlocking immense trade and investment potential between India and Spain as well as with Europe. They reiterated their strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and emphasised the need for strengthened international cooperation to combat terrorism.
The leaders expressed confidence that expanding bilateral ties, reinforced through the Dual Year, would impart fresh momentum to the India–Spain partnership.
