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Keir Starmer has stated that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," but avoided endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Hailed as a "Welcome Development to the World"

Starmer remarked that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly in private discussions with the US and mediators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his trade visit to the Indian subcontinent, the British leader stressed that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Answered

However, when asked if the Nobel committee should at this time grant Trump the prestigious award, the Prime Minister suggested that time was required to know if a durable peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to move forward and implement this ... my attention now is moving this from the phase 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 Revealed During India Visit

The Prime Minister has hailed a number of deals finalized during his visit to the country – his first time there – joined by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The visit marks the passing of the countries' trade pact.

• No 10 has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, Starmer finalized a military agreement worth £350m for British-made missiles, produced in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"The shared history is profound, the human connections between our citizens are truly special," he said as he departed the city. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are remaking this alliance for our era."

Digital Identification System Studied

Starmer has dedicated time in Mumbai studying the national digital identification program, including consulting key figures who designed the widespread system utilized by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and verification.

The prime minister suggested that the United Kingdom was considering expanding the scope of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the UK would eventually look at linking it to banking and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and school applications.

"It has been adopted on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it means that you can retrieve 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 in fact a Fintech discussion that we had as well. So we're examining those instances of how digital identification assists individuals with procedures that sometimes take excessive time and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Reforms

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

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I believe that the more people see the positive outcomes that come with this ... as has occurred in other countries, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Human Rights and International Relations Discussed

The Prime Minister said he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and ties with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made little headway. Starmer acknowledged that he and Modi discussed how the country was continuing to buy Russian oil, which is subject to widespread western sanctions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on ending this conflict and the multiple measures will be implemented to that purpose," he said. "This included a broad spectrum of discussion, but we did set out the steps that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

Starmer also said he had raised the situation of the UK-based activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without facing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among Britons currently detained overseas.

But, he did not suggest much advancement had been made. "Yes, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the opportunity to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is meeting the relatives in coming weeks, as well as raising it today."

Future Plans

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a comparable trade-focused visit to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to improve diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the UK has been unwilling to provide new proof that the country is deemed a security risk.

Starmer said the United Kingdom was eager to explore other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with China was not on the agenda. "That's not on our list, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to work together where we can, challenge where we need to, and this has been the consistent policy of the administration in regarding China."