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The Prime Minister has declared that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," yet stopped short of endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

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

The prime minister remarked 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 behind the scenes with the US and negotiators.

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

Peace Prize Question Answered

However, when questioned if the Nobel prize committee should now award Donald Trump the prestigious prize, Starmer suggested that more time was needed to know if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to press on and implement this ... my focus 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 told reporters at a press conference in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment Announced During India Visit

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements finalized during his tour to the country – his first time there – accompanied by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The visit marks the passing of the two nations' 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 UK.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister finalized a military agreement worth £350 million for British-made missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"The shared history is profound, the personal ties between our citizens are truly special," he remarked as he departed the city. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are remaking this alliance for our era."

Digital Identification Initiative Studied

Starmer has dedicated time in Mumbai analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including consulting principal architects who developed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and verification.

The prime minister suggested that the United Kingdom was interested in expanding the scope 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 educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a optional basis [in India] in massive scale, partly because it means that you can access your own money, make payments so much more easily than is available with others," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it enables residents here to utilize facilities, particularly 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 instances of how digital ID helps individuals with processes that often take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

Starmer admitted 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 greater number of individuals see the positive outcomes that accompany this ... as has occurred in other countries, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Discussed

The Prime Minister said he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding human rights and ties with Russia, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. He confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how the country was continuing to buy Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on ending this conflict and the various steps will be implemented to that end," he said. "And that was a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we did set out the steps that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

Starmer additionally mentioned he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian prison for nearly eight years without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among UK nationals currently detained overseas.

But, he did not indicate much progress had been made. "Yes, we did raise the consular cases," he said. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the relatives in the near future, as well as discussing it today."

Future Plans

The prime minister is widely expected to take a similar business-oriented trip to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to ease 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 UK has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that China is considered a security risk.

The Prime Minister clarified the United Kingdom was eager to explore other trading relationships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with the nation was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to work together where we can, challenge where we need to, and this has been the ongoing approach of the government in regarding China."