New Delhi: India and Spain have agreed that both countries will run joint programs for development work in the countries of South America. For this, both countries will also invest together.

This decision was taken in a bilateral meeting between the two countries led by Spain's PM Pedro Sanchez and PM Narendra Modi in Baroda on Monday. There was also an agreement to strengthen the existing relations between the two countries in the defense sector and to explore the possibilities of jointly manufacturing defense equipment and warships.

Inauguration of C-295 manufacturing plant

A similar consensus was reached in PM Modi's meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz last week. The visit of the leaders of two big EU countries to India in a span of one week is also being seen as giving new dimensions to the existing relations of the entire region with India.

Before the India-Spain bilateral talks, the two leaders jointly inaugurated the C-295 military transport aircraft manufacturing plant in a joint venture between Tata and Airbus. PM Modi also participated in a procession with Sanchez. The two countries have identified the year 2026 as a year of cooperation in the field of culture, tourism and AI.

There are immense possibilities in tourism as well

Every year 2.50 lakh Indians visit Spain for tourism, while 40 thousand Spanish citizens visit India. Defence and mobility are two such areas which both the countries consider to have great potential for mutual cooperation. The Ministry of External Affairs has informed that Spain is among the top 10 countries in the world in the export of defence equipment.

Spain is especially trying to build warships with India. A letter of intent has been signed for cooperation in railways, transport, investment and customs. In a joint statement issued after the meeting between Modi and Sanchez, it has been said that along with the situation in the Indo-Pacific region, the Ukraine war and the situation in West Asia were also discussed.

Spain supported India's policy 

Spain has supported India's policy on Ukraine and said that this dispute should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue. Condemning the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 last year, both the leaders have described the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza as unacceptable.

Also, the two-nation theory has been supported for a permanent solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict. Spain has opened a new consulate in Bangalore and India in Barcelona. On this occasion, PM Modi said that the joint venture of Tata and Airbus has ushered in a new era in relations between India and Spain.