From Columbus to Connectivity: Spain's National Day Celebrates 155 Years of Thai-Spanish Diplomacy
October 12 marks not only Spain's National Day but also a milestone year in one of Europe's most enduring Southeast Asian partnerships
- Spain's National Day on October 12 is being used to highlight the 155th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Thailand, which will be formally celebrated in 2025.
- The relationship has deepened with Spain supporting Thailand's pursuit of an EU Free Trade Agreement, OECD membership, and a Schengen visa waiver for its citizens.
- High-level diplomatic meetings have expanded cooperation into new sectors, including innovation, technology, renewable energy, and climate change.
- Cultural and educational ties have been strengthened through a new memorandum of understanding on language programs and joint forums on sustainability.
- Tourism is a key pillar of the partnership, with a record 207,710 Spanish visitors to Thailand in 2024, facilitated by new direct flights and promotional campaigns.
Every October 12, Spain commemorates Día de la Hispanidad, marking the day Christopher Columbus first set foot in the Americas in 1492.
Beyond the grandeur of the military parade along Madrid's Paseo de la Castellana and the Royal Family's ceremonial flag-raising, this National Day serves as a moment of reflection on Spain's global connections—none more significant this year than its relationship with Thailand, which celebrates its 155th anniversary in 2025.
As the Spanish Armed Forces display their precision along the capital's boulevards and museums across the nation open their doors to the public, the day encapsulates not merely Spain's historical legacy but also its contemporary diplomatic achievements.
For Thailand, October 12 has become an annual celebration of one of Europe's most dynamic and multifaceted partnerships in Southeast Asia.
A Diplomatic Renaissance
The Thailand-Spain relationship has experienced a remarkable renaissance, particularly evident through the recent high-level diplomatic engagements that have defined 2025. In June, senior officials from both nations convened in Bangkok for the 7th Thailand-Spain Political Consultations, marking a new chapter in bilateral cooperation.
The consultations, co-chaired by Thailand's Director-General of European Affairs Krongkanit Rakcharoen and Spain's Director-General for North America, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific Luis Fonseca Sánchez, demonstrated the breadth of contemporary cooperation.
Key areas of collaboration now encompass innovation, technology, agriculture, education, tourism, defence technology, energy, and climate change—a far cry from the limited trade relationships of previous decades.
Spain's State Secretary of Foreign and Global Affairs, Diego Martinez Belio, has expressed his readiness to visit Thailand in 2025, underscoring the commitment to high-level diplomatic engagement during this anniversary year.
This reciprocal approach to diplomacy reflects both nations' recognition of the partnership's strategic value.
Strategic Economic Cooperation
The economic dimensions of the relationship have evolved considerably, with Spain positioning itself as a key supporter of Thailand's regional ambitions.
Thailand has extended invitations for Spanish investment in its strategic Landbridge Project—a transformative infrastructure initiative designed to enhance regional connectivity and provide an alternative route to the congested Malacca Strait.
Spain's backing of Thailand's pursuit of an EU Free Trade Agreement represents perhaps the most significant diplomatic support, with both nations actively engaged in negotiations throughout 2024 and 2025.
Additionally, Spain has lent its weight to Thailand's aspirations for OECD membership and Schengen visa exemptions for Thai citizens—practical measures that would substantially deepen bilateral ties.
The trade figures reflect this strengthening relationship. Thailand's exports to Spain reached $1.06 billion in 2024, primarily consisting of machinery, electrical equipment, and vehicles, whilst Spain's exports to Thailand totalled $836.91 million, including machinery, pharmaceuticals, and automotive products.
The Spanish-Thai Chamber of Commerce has become increasingly active, facilitating business networking through events such as the "Spanish Tardeo" gatherings in Bangkok, which blend commercial networking with cultural exchange.
Cultural and Educational Foundations
The partnership's cultural dimensions have been equally impressive. In April 2025, the education ministries of both nations signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding to promote Thai and Spanish language programmes and cultural exchange initiatives.
This agreement builds upon decades of informal cultural cooperation and provides institutional support for deeper mutual understanding.
The 3rd Thailand-Spain Forum, hosted in Bangkok in June 2025, focused on "Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges," bringing together officials and academics to address pressing issues including climate change and circular economy principles.
Such forums exemplify the intellectual cooperation that underpins the broader diplomatic relationship.
Cultural events have flourished, often supported by the Spanish Embassy and the Spanish-Thai Chamber of Commerce.
Regular celebrations of Spanish heritage, including the "Spanish Tardeo" networking events featuring authentic cuisine and entertainment, have become fixtures in Bangkok's diplomatic calendar.
Tourism: A Bridge Between Peoples
Perhaps no sector better illustrates the relationship's vibrancy than tourism. Spanish visitors to Thailand reached a record-breaking 207,710 in 2024, representing an 11.09% increase from the previous high in 2019.
This surge was facilitated by expanded flight connectivity, including Iberojet's Madrid-Bangkok service launched in May 2024.
The "Eat Spain Drink Spain" promotional campaigns of 2024 and 2025 have successfully introduced Spanish gastronomy to Thai audiences, attracting both tourists and local enthusiasts.
These initiatives demonstrate how cultural diplomacy can generate practical economic benefits whilst fostering genuine cross-cultural appreciation.
Looking Towards the Future
As Spain observes its National Day in 2025, the 155th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Thailand provides a natural moment for reflection and forward planning.
The relationship has transcended its historical foundations to become a genuinely strategic partnership addressing 21st-century challenges.
The focus on green technology, sustainable development, and innovation cooperation suggests that both nations recognise the partnership's potential to address global challenges collaboratively.
Spain's support for Thailand's regional connectivity ambitions, combined with Thailand's warm reception of Spanish investment and tourism, creates a foundation for continued growth.
The success of the Thailand-Spain relationship offers lessons for contemporary diplomacy: that historical connections, whilst valuable, must evolve to address contemporary challenges; that economic cooperation flourishes when supported by cultural understanding; and that genuine partnerships require sustained high-level engagement.
A Partnership for the Modern Era
Spain's National Day celebrations in 2025 thus represent more than historical commemoration. They mark a moment when a European nation and a Southeast Asian kingdom demonstrate how diplomatic relationships can mature, deepen, and adapt to changing global circumstances whilst maintaining their essential character.
From the military parades in Madrid to the diplomatic receptions in Bangkok, October 12 celebrates not only Spain's national heritage but the enduring bonds that connect nations across continents.
In the case of Thailand and Spain, those bonds have never been stronger, promising continued cooperation in the years ahead.
As Spanish flags flutter across the kingdom and Thai dignitaries raise their glasses in Bangkok, the 155th anniversary of diplomatic relations stands as testament to what sustained diplomatic engagement can achieve.
In an era of global uncertainty, the Thailand-Spain partnership offers hope that international cooperation, built on mutual respect and shared interests, remains not only possible but essential.
