Spain’s President Sánchez Visits India for AI Summit 2026
In an important diplomatic engagement, Pedro Sánchez, the President of the Government of Spain, is visiting India from February 18 to 19, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This visit marks Sánchez’s second official trip to India, building upon his previous bilateral discussions held from October 27 to 29, 2024. Accompanying him are Óscar López Agueda, Minister for Digital Transformation and Civil Service, and Luis Planas Puchades, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Bilateral Talks Focus on Key Areas
During their meeting, Prime Minister Modi and President Sánchez engaged in extensive discussions about the wide range of India-Spain relations. Topics included trade and investment, technology, infrastructure, climate and renewable energy, defence and security, space, culture, tourism, and increasing people-to-people exchanges. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the strengthening of bilateral cooperation and acknowledged the progress achieved in the Tata-Airbus collaboration regarding the Final Assembly Line for the C-295 transport aircraft at the Vadodara facility, which they jointly inaugurated in October 2024.
Promoting Cultural and Technological Ties
The leaders emphasized the significance of the ongoing India-Spain Dual Year of Culture, Tourism, and Artificial Intelligence, celebrating the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. This initiative is expected to enhance partnerships in technology, innovation, business, and cultural exchange.
President Sánchez underscored the importance of the AI Impact Summit, expressing optimism that its outcomes will significantly influence global AI governance. They both recognized artificial intelligence as a transformative tool and stressed the importance of deeper collaboration between India and Spain to harness its potential for inclusive development.
Opportunities in Education and Tourism
Discussions also highlighted potential educational cooperation, particularly in the context of India’s New Education Policy. The upcoming Conference of Vice-Chancellors from Indian universities and Rectors from Spanish universities, scheduled for February 19-20, 2026, in New Delhi, was acknowledged as a positive step towards bridging educational exchanges. Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to leading Spanish universities, especially in STEM fields, to establish campuses in India.
Addressing Regional and Global Challenges
In their talks, both leaders touched upon various regional and global issues of mutual interest, including Spain’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. They hailed the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations as a significant milestone, expected to unlock substantial trade and investment opportunities between India, Spain, and Europe. Furthermore, they reiterated their shared condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and underlined the need for enhanced international collaboration to combat this global threat.
As they concluded their discussions, both leaders expressed confidence that the expanding bilateral ties, strengthened through the ongoing Dual Year, would infuse new momentum into the India-Spain partnership.
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