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Keir Starmer has declared that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," yet stopped short of supporting the US president for a Nobel peace prize.

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

The prime minister remarked that the initial stage of the deal would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the UK had contributed significantly in private discussions with the US and mediators.

Speaking on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and paired with the prompt removal of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Addressed

But, when asked if the Nobel committee should now award Donald Trump the prestigious award, the Prime Minister suggested that more time was needed to determine if a durable peace could be achieved.

"The priority now is to press on and implement this ... my attention now is transitioning this from the phase it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me above all," he stated at a press conference in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment Announced During India Visit

The Prime Minister has celebrated a number of deals sealed during his tour to the country – his first time there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip signifies the passing of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has unveiled a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On Thursday, Starmer finalized a military agreement worth £350m for UK missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

"Our history together is deep, the human connections between our people are exceptionally strong," he remarked as he departed Mumbai. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are remaking this alliance for our times."

Digital ID System Studied

Starmer has spent time in India analyzing the national digital identification program, including consulting principal architects who designed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and verification.

He hinted that the UK was interested in broadening the application of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the Britain would in time look at connecting it to banking and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and school applications.

"It has been adopted on a optional basis [in India] in massive scale, not least because it ensures that you can retrieve your own funds, make payments so much more conveniently than is available with alternative methods," he noted.

"The speed with which it allows residents here to access services, particularly financial services, is something that was recognized 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 people with processes that sometimes take excessive time and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Changes

Starmer acknowledged that the administration had to make the case for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in popularity since he announced 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 accompany this ... as has occurred in different nations, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and International Relations Discussed

The Prime Minister said he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and ties with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. He acknowledged that he and Modi talked about how the country was persisting to purchase oil from Russia, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on resolving this situation and the various steps will be taken to that end," he said. "This included a wide range of discussion, but we outlined the actions that we are taking in relation to energy."

The Prime Minister also said he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian prison for almost a decade without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among UK nationals still held overseas.

However, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been made. "Indeed, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is meeting the relatives in coming weeks, as well as discussing it now."

Future Plans

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a similar trade-focused visit to China in the coming year as part of a mission to improve diplomatic ties between the UK and China.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that China is considered a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the UK was keen to pursue other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with China was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to work together where we can, confront where we need to, and this has been the ongoing approach of the administration in relation to China."