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The Prime Minister has declared that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," but avoided endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Ceasefire Deal Welcomed as a "Welcome Development to the Globe"

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the United Kingdom had played its own role in private discussions with the US and mediators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his trade visit to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer emphasized that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and paired with the prompt removal of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Addressed

But, when questioned if the Nobel committee should now award Donald Trump the prestigious award, Starmer implied that time was required to know if a durable peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to move forward and execute this ... my focus now is moving this from the stage it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that is important to me above all," he told reporters at a press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Announced During Trip to India

Starmer has celebrated a series of agreements finalized during his visit to India – his first time there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit signifies the passing of the countries' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister finalized a defence deal worth £350 million for UK missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"Our history together is deep, the human connections between our citizens are exceptionally strong," he remarked as he left the city. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are remaking this partnership for our era."

Digital Identification System Studied

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in India studying the national digital identification program, including meeting key figures who developed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and identification.

He suggested that the United Kingdom was considering expanding the scope of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the Britain would eventually look at linking it to financial and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as home loan and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a optional basis [in India] in massive scale, partly because it ensures that you can retrieve your own funds, conduct transactions so much more easily than is possible with alternative methods," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it enables residents here to utilize facilities, especially banking options, is something that was acknowledged in our talks yesterday, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had as well. So we're examining those instances of how digital ID helps people with processes that sometimes take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Reforms

The Prime Minister admitted that the government had to make the case for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in public approval since Starmer announced them.

"In my view now we need to go out and make that case the significant advantages ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the benefits that come with this ... as has happened in other countries, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Discussed

Starmer said he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and ties with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made little headway. He acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how India was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on ending this situation and the various steps will be taken to that end," he said. "This included a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we did set out the steps that we are taking in relation to energy."

Starmer additionally mentioned he had raised the case of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian prison for nearly eight years without undergoing a full trial. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of injustice among Britons currently detained overseas.

But, Starmer did not suggest much advancement had been achieved. "Yes, we did raise the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is meeting the relatives in the near future, as well as discussing it now."

Future Plans

The prime minister is widely expected to take a comparable trade-focused trip to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a mission to improve relations between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the UK has been unwilling to provide new proof that the country is considered a threat.

Starmer said the UK was keen to pursue other trading relationships but stated that a trade deal with China was not on the agenda. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal as such, but our stance is to work together where we are able, challenge where we must, and this has been the ongoing approach of the government in regarding China."