President Cyril Ramaphosa will participate in the “In Defence of Democracy” initiative during his working visit to Spain from today to Friday.
As part of the programme, he is scheduled to meet King Felipe the 6th in Madrid, followed by bilateral talks with Pedro Sánchez in Barcelona ahead of the initiative’s formal proceedings.
In Defence of Democracy is an international effort initially launched by Brazil and Spain in 2024, aimed at confronting the rise of extremism, polarisation, and disinformation.
President Ramaphosa is expected to address the plenary session on Extremism and Inequality, following the commissioning of the G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality.
South Africa says it notes that Spain regards it as a strategic partner, with both nations seeking to significantly deepen political, economic, and people-to-people ties within the African continent.
Bilateral trade between South Africa and Spain grew by 8.3%, rising from $2.9 billion US dollars in 2024 to 3.1 billion US dollars in 2025.
According to the Presidency, more than 150 Spanish companies have invested in South Africa, supporting over 20 000 jobs.
His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa has this morning arrived in the Kingdom of Spain on a working visit from 16 to 18 April 2026 to participate at the In Defence of Democracy Initiative.
The President will have an audience with the King of Spain, His Majesty Felipe VI,… pic.twitter.com/wWJJqiVOeN
— The Presidency
