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

Truce Agreement Hailed as a "Relief to the World"

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had played its own role in private discussions with the United States and negotiators.

Speaking on the final day of his trade visit to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the prompt removal of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Answered

But, when asked 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.

"What matters now is to move forward and execute this ... my attention now is transitioning this from the stage it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me above all," he stated at a media briefing in Mumbai.

Business Deals Revealed During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements finalized during his visit to India – his maiden visit there – accompanied by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The visit marks the implementation of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has announced a range of financial commitments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, Starmer signed a defence deal worth £350 million for UK missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian military.

"Our history together is deep, the personal ties between our citizens are truly special," he remarked as he left Mumbai. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this partnership for our times."

Digital Identification System Examined

Starmer has dedicated time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including meeting key figures who developed the comprehensive platform utilized by more than 1 billion people for benefits, transactions, and identification.

He suggested that the United Kingdom was considering expanding the application of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the Britain would in time look at connecting it to financial and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It's been taken up on a optional basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it ensures that you can retrieve your own funds, conduct transactions so much more easily than is available with alternative methods," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it enables residents here to access services, particularly financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our talks yesterday, and in fact a Fintech conversation that we had as well. So we're looking at those instances of how digital identification helps individuals with procedures that often take too long and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Changes

The Prime Minister admitted that the government had to make the case for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in popularity since he proposed them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I think that the more people see the benefits that accompany this ... as has happened in other countries, citizens say: 'That will make my life easier,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Addressed

Starmer confirmed he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and relations with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. Starmer confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how the country was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on resolving this conflict and the multiple measures will be taken to that end," he commented. "And that was a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we did set out the actions that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

The Prime Minister additionally mentioned he had brought up the case of the UK-based activist the individual, from Scotland, 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 injustice among Britons currently detained overseas.

However, he did not indicate much progress had been achieved. "Yes, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he said. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is meeting the relatives in the near future, as well as raising it today."

Future Plans

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a similar trade-focused visit to China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to ease diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

That relationship is receiving attention because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, said to have happened because the UK has been reluctant to provide fresh evidence that the country is considered a security risk.

The Prime Minister said the United Kingdom was eager to explore other trading relationships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with China was not on the agenda. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal as such, but our stance is to work together where we are able, confront where we must, and that's been the consistent policy of the administration in relation to China."