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The Prime Minister has declared that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," but avoided endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the World"

The prime minister remarked that the first phase 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 negotiators.

Speaking on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer emphasized that the deal "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 Inquiry Addressed

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

"The priority now is to move forward and implement this ... my focus now is moving this from the stage it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he told reporters at a media briefing in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment Announced During India Visit

Starmer has hailed a number of deals finalized during his tour to India – his first time there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip marks the implementation of the countries' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has announced a slew of investments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister finalized a military agreement worth £350m for British-made missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian army.

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

Digital Identification System Examined

Starmer has spent time in Mumbai studying the national digital identification program, including consulting principal architects who developed the comprehensive platform utilized by more than 1 billion people for social services, transactions, and identification.

He suggested that the United Kingdom was considering broadening the scope of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the Britain would in time look at linking it to banking and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for official procedures such as home loan and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it means that you can access your own funds, make payments so much more easily than is available with alternative methods," he explained.

"The speed with which it enables residents here to access services, particularly banking options, is something that was recognized in our talks recently, and in fact a Fintech conversation that we had today. So we're looking at those examples of how digital ID helps people with processes that sometimes take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

Starmer admitted that the government had to build public support for the initiatives to the British public, which have plummeted in public approval since he announced them.

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

Human Rights and International Relations Discussed

The Prime Minister said he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding human rights and ties with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made little headway. Starmer confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how India was continuing to buy oil from Russia, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on resolving this situation and the various steps will be taken to that purpose," he commented. "And that was a wide range of dialogue, but we did set out the steps that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister additionally said he had raised the case of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian jail for almost a decade without undergoing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among UK nationals currently detained abroad.

However, Starmer did not suggest much progress had been achieved. "Yes, we brought up the consular cases," he said. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is scheduled to meet the relatives in the near future, as well as raising it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is widely expected to take a comparable trade-focused trip to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a mission to improve relations between the UK and China.

That relationship is receiving attention because of the collapse of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the UK has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that the country is considered a threat.

Starmer said the UK was keen to pursue other trading relationships but stated that a trade deal with the nation was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to work together where we are able, confront where we must, and that's been the consistent policy of the administration in regarding China."