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The Prime Minister has declared that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," but stopped short of endorsing the American leader for a Nobel peace prize.

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

The prime minister commented that the first phase of the deal would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the United Kingdom had played its own role behind the scenes with the US and mediators.

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

Peace Prize Inquiry Addressed

However, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should at this time award Donald Trump the coveted award, the Prime Minister implied that more time was required to determine if a durable peace could be attained.

"The priority 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 matters to me more than anything else," he stated at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Revealed During India Visit

Starmer has hailed a number of deals finalized during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – joined by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The trip signifies the implementation of the two nations' trade pact.

• No 10 has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On the final day, Starmer finalized a defence deal worth £350 million for UK missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"The shared history is profound, the human connections between our citizens are truly special," he said as he departed Mumbai. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are remaking this partnership for our times."

Digital ID System Examined

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in Mumbai studying the national digital identification program, including meeting principal architects who designed the widespread system utilized by more than 1 billion people for benefits, transactions, and identification.

He suggested that the United Kingdom was considering broadening the application of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the UK would in time look at linking it to banking and payments systems – 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 huge numbers, partly because it means that you can access your own money, make payments so much more easily than is possible with others," he noted.

"The speed with which it enables citizens here to utilize facilities, particularly banking options, is something that was recognized in our talks yesterday, and in fact a Fintech discussion that we had today. So we're examining those examples of how digital identification assists individuals with processes that often take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

The Prime Minister admitted that the government had to make the case for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in public approval since Starmer proposed them.

"I think now we need to go out and make that case the huge benefits ... And I think that the more people see the benefits that come with this ... as has happened in different nations, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and International Relations Addressed

The Prime Minister said he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding human rights and relations with Russia, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. He confirmed that he and Modi discussed how the country was continuing to buy oil from Russia, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on ending this situation and the various steps will be implemented to that end," he said. "And that was a wide range of discussion, but we outlined the actions that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

Starmer additionally said he had brought up the case of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without undergoing a full trial. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among Britons currently detained abroad.

But, Starmer did not indicate much progress had been achieved. "Indeed, we brought up the consular cases," he said. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is meeting the relatives in the near future, as well as discussing it today."

Future Plans

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a comparable business-oriented visit to China in the coming year as part of a effort to improve relations between the UK and the Asian nation.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide new proof that China is considered a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the UK was eager to pursue additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with the nation was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to cooperate where we can, challenge where we must, and this has been the consistent policy of the administration in relation to China."