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Keir Starmer has stated that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "could not have happened without President Trump's leadership," but stopped short of supporting the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the World"

Starmer commented that the first phase of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had played its own role behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his trade visit to India, the British leader emphasized that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Addressed

But, when questioned if the Nobel prize committee should now award Trump the prestigious award, Starmer implied that time was needed to know if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"The priority now is to press on and implement this ... my focus now is moving this from the stage it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he stated at a press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Revealed During India Visit

Starmer has hailed a number of deals sealed during his visit to the country – his maiden visit there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip marks the implementation of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister signed a defence deal worth £350 million for British-made missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

"The shared history is profound, the human connections between our people are truly special," Starmer remarked as he departed Mumbai. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are remaking this alliance for our era."

Digital ID System Studied

Starmer has dedicated time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including meeting principal architects who developed the widespread system used by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and verification.

The prime minister suggested that the UK was considering expanding the application of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the UK would in time look at linking it to banking and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it ensures that you can access your own money, make payments so much more easily than is possible with others," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it allows citizens here to access services, especially banking options, is something that was acknowledged in our talks recently, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had today. So we're examining those examples of how digital identification helps people with procedures that often take too long and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Reforms

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the administration had to build public support for the initiatives to the British public, which have declined sharply in public approval since Starmer proposed them.

"I think 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, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and International Relations Addressed

The Prime Minister said he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and relations with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. Starmer acknowledged that he and Modi discussed how the country was continuing to buy Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on ending this conflict and the multiple measures will be implemented to that end," he commented. "This included a wide range of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

The Prime Minister additionally said he had brought up the case of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been detained in an Indian prison for almost a decade without facing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among UK nationals currently detained abroad.

However, he did not suggest much advancement had been achieved. "Indeed, we brought up the consular cases," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the families in the near future, as well as raising it today."

Future Plans

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a comparable trade-focused trip to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to ease diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and China.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide new proof that China is considered a security risk.

Starmer said the UK was keen to explore additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with China was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to work together where we can, challenge where we must, and this has been the consistent policy of the administration in relation to China."