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

Ceasefire Deal Welcomed as a "Welcome Development to the Globe"

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

Speaking on the last day of his trade visit to India, Starmer stressed that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the prompt removal of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Addressed

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

"What matters now is to press on and implement this ... my attention 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 press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Announced During India Visit

Starmer has celebrated a series of agreements finalized during his visit to India – his first time there – joined by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip signifies the passing of the two nations' trade pact.

• The UK government has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister signed a military agreement worth £350 million for British-made missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"Our history together is profound, the personal ties between our citizens are exceptionally strong," he remarked as he left the city. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this alliance for our times."

Digital ID Initiative Examined

Starmer has dedicated time in Mumbai analyzing the national digital identification program, including consulting key figures who designed the widespread system utilized by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and verification.

The prime minister hinted that the UK was interested in broadening the scope of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the UK would eventually look at linking it to financial and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as home loan and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a optional basis [in India] in massive scale, not least because it means that you can access your own money, make payments so much more conveniently than is possible with others," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it enables residents here to access services, especially banking options, is something that was recognized in our talks recently, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had as well. So we're looking at those examples of how digital ID assists people with processes that often take too long and are too cumbersome and simplifies them for them."

Public Support for Reforms

Starmer acknowledged that the government had to build public support for the initiatives to the British public, which have declined sharply in popularity since he announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I believe that the more people see the benefits that accompany this ... as has happened in different nations, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and International Relations Addressed

Starmer said 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 confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how India was continuing to buy Russian oil, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on resolving this conflict and the multiple measures will be taken to that purpose," he said. "And that was a wide range of dialogue, but we did set out the actions that we are taking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister additionally said he had raised the situation 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 full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among Britons still held abroad.

However, he did not suggest much progress had been achieved. "Indeed, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he said. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I must add 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 business-oriented visit to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a mission to improve diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and China.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a espionage investigation, said to have happened because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide fresh evidence that China is deemed a threat.

Starmer clarified the United Kingdom was eager to explore additional commercial partnerships but stated that a trade deal with China was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal as such, but our stance is to work together where we can, challenge where we need to, and that's been the ongoing approach of the government in regarding China."