Mediterranean Futures: Spain, Africa, and New Alliances

27 March 2026

A couple of weeks ago I had a chance to listen to Mr Juan Antonio March Pujol ,Ambassador of Spain to India at a conference in New Delhi where he advocated for growth of ties between India and Spain. About 70 thousand people of Indian origin live in Spain currently and spain is already among the most popular tourist destinations in the EU with nearly 2.6 lakh Indians visiting the nation in 2024.

Yet what Mr Juan seemed to be advocating was strengthening ties that go beyond tourism. A socio economic partnership that can create new opportunities for growth between the two nations. He highlighted improved aerial mobility which could be crucial because at present there are no direct flights between India and Spain.

India is rapidly moving towards upgrading its cities making infrastructure smarter,more suited to handle the needs of the future. Spain is no stranger to this. Barcelona is a prime example of how a historical city evolves through the ages, as it prepares to undergo yet another transformation. Its grid architecture is carefully studied by city planners. An academic collaboration between India and Spain could offer lessons to both countries.

The current geopolitical tension in the middle east was discussed too and Mr Juan took a firm opinion that no one wants war. In the age of prosperity that we live in people feel that their future is secure and war is viewed as a disruption.

It's true that no one wants war. But it's also true, at least looking at the current circumstances, that no one seems to be able to resolve it decisively either.

In his work Leviathan,philosopher Thomas Hobbes describes human life as being in a constant state of war. Natural self interest drives competition among people, that without authority, imposing order, eventually devolves into chaos. There is a chance conflict in ME could spiral out of control too unless steps are taken to prevent it. As a former representative of Spain to the UN no one would know this better than Mr Juan considering that the UN has failed to prevent a single war since its establishment after WW2.

I could not help but draw parallels with the view of Mr Juan and that of ancient Carthaginians when there was a similar conflict in the Mediterranean about 2000 years ago, with an emerging Roman empire. Despite having Hannibal Barca, one of the greatest military commanders ever produced, who defeated Roman legions multiple times, the Carthaginian senate never pushed to gain decisive advantage and ultimately lost to Rome. It took Spain nearly 15 centuries to emerge from the shadow of the Roman empire.

People in Spain and also in Portugal are well aware of this fact. Not everyone really subscribes to the Roman narrative that is often imposed on Spanish culture. They are well in tune with their ancient Carthaginian history. And this presents an immense opportunity for a deeper collaboration between Spain and the North African region. Especially in the energy sector as the sahara desert has limitless potential for energy generation considering that the Spanish coast is only a few KMs away from Africa making it a gateway into the EU.

It is therefore important for Africa and Spain along with other Mediterranean nations to renew a cooperation that has roots in ancient history. In these times of crisis it is imperative to build alliances that can withstand the shocks that the future will inevitably bring with it.

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Akshat Jiwan Sharma

Materials science/International relations/Partnerships

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Akshat Jiwan Sharma

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