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Keir Starmer has stated that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," but stopped short of endorsing the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

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

The prime minister remarked that the first phase of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had played its own role behind the scenes with the US and negotiators.

Speaking on the last day of his business trip to India, the British leader stressed that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Addressed

But, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time grant Trump the prestigious prize, Starmer implied that more time was needed to know if a durable peace could be attained.

"The priority now is to press on and execute this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the phase it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that matters to me more than anything else," he stated at a press conference in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Announced During Trip to India

Starmer has celebrated a number of deals sealed during his visit to India – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip marks the implementation of the countries' trade pact.

• The UK government has unveiled a slew of investments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On Thursday, Starmer signed a military agreement worth £350m for UK missiles, produced in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"The shared history is deep, the human connections between our citizens are exceptionally strong," he said as he left Mumbai. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are remaking this partnership for our times."

Digital Identification Initiative Studied

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in India studying the Indian digital ID system, including consulting principal architects who designed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and verification.

He hinted that the United Kingdom was considering expanding the scope of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the Britain would eventually look at connecting it to financial and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and school applications.

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

"The efficiency with which it allows citizens here to utilize facilities, particularly banking options, is something that was recognized in our discussions yesterday, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had as well. So we're examining those examples of how digital identification assists individuals with procedures that often take excessive time and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

Starmer acknowledged that the government had to build public support for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in public approval since he proposed them.

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I believe that the more people see the benefits that accompany this ... as has happened in different nations, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Addressed

The Prime Minister said he had raised 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 acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how the country was continuing to purchase Russian oil, which is subject to widespread western sanctions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on resolving this conflict and the multiple measures will be implemented to that purpose," he said. "This included a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we did set out the actions that we are taking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister additionally mentioned he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Scotland, who has been detained in an Indian prison for nearly eight years without undergoing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among UK nationals still held 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 opportunity 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

Starmer is widely expected to take a similar business-oriented trip to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a effort to ease relations between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

That relationship is receiving attention because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide new proof that the country is considered a threat.

Starmer clarified the UK was eager 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 trade deal as such, but our stance is to cooperate where we are able, challenge where we need to, and this has been the ongoing approach of the government in regarding China."