On 21 October 2026, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered a keynote address with H.E. Mr. José Manuel Albares, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, at the opening of the 4th Spain – Thailand Forum, held under the theme "Innovation, Technology and Cooperation for a Shared Digital Future" at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation in Madrid.

The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the Forum as a Track 1.5 platform building on the outcomes of the 8th Thailand–Spain Political Consultations held earlier the same day. He welcomed Spain's Asia-Pacific Strategy 2026–2029 as an opportunity to expand cooperation in science, technology and education. Amid major-power competition, Thailand and Spain, as middle powers, can jointly uphold the rules-based international order, in line with Thailand's "Act from the Middle" approach and Diplomacy 2.0, which seeks to engage all sectors. The Deputy Prime Minister also reiterated that the Forum will enable leading academics from Thailand and Spain to exchange views and explore avenues for cooperation in cybersecurity, smart cities, and science and technology.

The Forum was co-organised by the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA), the International Studies Center (ISC), and Casa Asia as the main partners with support from the Royal Thai Embassy in Madrid and the Embassy of Spain in Bangkok. Government and academic experts took part from Thammasat University, NXPO, STIPI and depa on the Thai side, and from Adigital, Elcano Royal Institute, Barcelona City Council, Anteverti, Spanish National Research Council, Center for Technological Development and Innovation, on the Spanish side.