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The Prime Minister has stated that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," but stopped short of supporting the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Ceasefire Deal Hailed as a "Welcome Development to the World"

Starmer remarked that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the UK had played its own role behind the scenes with the US and mediators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his trade visit to India, Starmer stressed that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Answered

However, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should now grant Donald Trump the prestigious prize, the Prime Minister implied that time was required to know if a durable peace could be attained.

"The priority now is to press on and execute this ... my attention now is moving this from the phase it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he stated at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Announced During Trip to India

Starmer has celebrated a series of agreements sealed during his visit to India – his first time there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit signifies the implementation of the two nations' trade pact.

• The UK government has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On the final day, Starmer finalized a military agreement worth £350 million for British-made missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"Our history together is deep, the human connections between our people are exceptionally strong," he said as he left Mumbai. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are remaking this partnership for our times."

Digital ID System Studied

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

The prime minister hinted that the UK was interested in expanding the scope of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the UK 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 school applications.

"It's been taken up on a optional basis [in India] in massive scale, partly because it means that you can access your own money, make payments so much more conveniently than is available with others," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it allows residents here to access services, especially financial services, is something that was acknowledged 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 people with procedures that sometimes take too long and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Public Support for Reforms

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the administration had to make the case for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in popularity since he announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... 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 make my life easier,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and International Relations Addressed

Starmer confirmed he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding human rights and ties with Russia, though he seemed to have made little headway. Starmer confirmed that he and Modi talked about how India was continuing to buy Russian oil, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on ending this situation and the various steps will be taken to that purpose," he said. "This included a wide range of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are taking in regarding energy."

Starmer also mentioned he had brought up the case of the UK-based activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian prison for almost a decade without facing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among Britons currently detained overseas.

However, Starmer did not suggest much progress had been achieved. "Yes, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the relatives in coming weeks, as well as raising it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a comparable trade-focused trip to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a effort to improve relations between the UK and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the UK has been unwilling to provide new proof that the country is considered a threat.

Starmer clarified the United Kingdom was eager to explore other trading relationships but stated that a trade deal with China was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to cooperate where we are able, confront where we need to, and that's been the ongoing approach of the administration in relation to China."