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The Prime Minister has asserted that the truce deal in Gaza "could not have happened without President Trump's leadership," but avoided supporting the US president for a Nobel peace prize.

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

Starmer remarked that the first phase of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly in private discussions with the US and mediators.

Speaking on the final day of his trade visit to the Indian subcontinent, the British leader emphasized that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and paired with the immediate lifting of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Addressed

However, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time award Trump the prestigious award, Starmer suggested that more time was required to determine if a durable peace could be attained.

"The priority now is to move forward and execute this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the phase it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that is important to me above all," he stated at a press conference in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Announced During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has hailed a number of deals sealed during his tour to India – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip marks 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 making of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister finalized a defence deal worth £350 million for British-made missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"The shared history is deep, the personal ties between our people are truly special," Starmer said as he left the city. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this alliance for our era."

Digital Identification Initiative Studied

Starmer has dedicated time in Mumbai analyzing the national digital identification program, including meeting key figures who designed the widespread system utilized by more than 1 billion people for benefits, transactions, and verification.

The prime minister suggested that the United Kingdom was considering broadening the application of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the UK would in time look at connecting it to financial and transaction networks – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as home loan and school applications.

"It has been adopted on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, partly because it means that you can retrieve your own money, make payments so much more easily than is possible with others," he explained.

"The speed with which it enables citizens here to utilize facilities, especially financial services, is something that was recognized in our talks recently, and actually a Fintech discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID assists individuals with procedures that sometimes take too long and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

Starmer admitted that the administration had to make the case for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in public approval since he 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 occurred in other countries, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and International Relations Addressed

Starmer confirmed he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding human rights and ties with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. Starmer acknowledged that he and Modi talked about how India was persisting to buy oil from Russia, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on ending this conflict and the multiple measures will be taken to that end," he commented. "And that was a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

Starmer also said he had brought up the case of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without undergoing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among UK nationals currently detained overseas.

But, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been made. "Indeed, we brought up the consular cases," he said. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is meeting the relatives in the near future, as well as raising it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a comparable business-oriented trip to China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to ease relations between the UK and China.

That relationship is receiving attention because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the UK has been reluctant to provide fresh evidence that the country is deemed a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the United Kingdom was keen to pursue other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with the nation was not on the agenda. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to work together where we are able, challenge where we need to, and that's been the consistent policy of the government in relation to China."