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The Prime Minister has asserted that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," yet avoided endorsing the American leader for a Nobel peace prize.

Ceasefire Deal Welcomed as a "Relief to the Globe"

Starmer commented that the first phase 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 US and negotiators.

Speaking on the last day of his trade visit to India, the British leader stressed that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the immediate lifting of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Answered

However, when questioned if the Nobel prize committee should at this time grant Trump the coveted award, Starmer suggested that more time was required to determine if a durable 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 above all," he stated at a press conference in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Announced During India Visit

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

• No 10 has unveiled a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, Starmer finalized a military agreement worth £350 million for UK missiles, produced in the UK region, to be used by the Indian military.

"The shared history is profound, the human connections between our people are exceptionally strong," Starmer remarked as he left Mumbai. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are remaking this partnership for our era."

Digital ID System Examined

Starmer has spent time in India studying the national digital identification program, including consulting key figures who developed the widespread system used by more than 1 billion people for benefits, payments, and identification.

He suggested that the UK was interested in expanding the scope of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the UK would in time look at connecting it to banking and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and school applications.

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

"The efficiency with which it allows citizens here to utilize facilities, especially banking options, is something that was recognized in our talks yesterday, and actually a Fintech conversation that we had as well. So we're looking at those instances of how digital identification helps individuals with processes that sometimes take too long and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Changes

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the government had to build public support for the initiatives to the British public, which have declined sharply in popularity since Starmer proposed them.

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I believe that the greater number of individuals see the benefits that come with this ... as has occurred in different nations, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Discussed

The Prime Minister said he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and ties with Russia, though he seemed to have made little headway. He confirmed that he and Modi talked about how India was continuing to purchase Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on ending this situation and the various steps will be implemented to that purpose," he commented. "And that was a wide range of dialogue, but we outlined the actions that we are taking in relation to energy."

The Prime Minister additionally said he had raised the case of the UK-based activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among UK nationals currently detained abroad.

But, he did not suggest much progress had been achieved. "Yes, we did raise the consular cases," he said. "We always raise them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is meeting the relatives in the near future, as well as raising it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is widely expected to take a similar trade-focused visit 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 the Asian nation.

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 the country is deemed a security risk.

The Prime Minister said the UK was eager to explore other trading relationships but emphasized that a commercial agreement 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, confront where we need to, and that's been the consistent policy of the government in relation to China."