South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is on a working visit to Spain from 16 to 18 April, where he will meet King Felipe VI and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Barcelona. The visit coincides with the "In Defence of Democracy" initiative — an international effort launched by Brazil and Spain in 2024 to counter extremism, polarisation, and disinformation — where Ramaphosa is set to address a plenary session on extremism and inequality. The trip underscores growing ties between the two countries, with bilateral trade rising 8.3% to $3.1 billion in 2025 and more than 150 Spanish companies currently invested in South Africa, supporting over 20,000 jobs.