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The Prime Minister has asserted that the truce deal in Gaza "could not have happened without the leadership of Donald Trump," yet avoided supporting the US president for a Nobel peace prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the Globe"

Starmer commented that the first phase of the deal would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, the British leader stressed that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Addressed

However, when questioned if the Nobel prize committee should now award Trump the coveted award, Starmer implied that time was needed to determine if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"The priority 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 is important to me more than anything else," he stated at a press conference in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Revealed During India Visit

Starmer has celebrated a number of deals sealed during his visit to the country – his first time there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The trip marks the passing of the countries' trade pact.

• No 10 has unveiled a slew of investments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On Thursday, Starmer signed a defence deal worth £350m for UK missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian military.

"The shared history is profound, the personal ties between our people are exceptionally strong," he said as he left Mumbai. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this alliance for our times."

Digital Identification System Studied

Starmer has spent time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including meeting principal architects who designed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and verification.

The prime minister hinted that the United Kingdom was interested in broadening the scope of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the UK would in time look at connecting it to financial and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and school applications.

"It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, partly because it means that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more easily than is possible with others," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it enables citizens here to access services, especially banking options, is something that was acknowledged in our discussions recently, and in fact a Fintech conversation that we had as well. So we're looking at those examples of how digital ID helps people with procedures that sometimes take too long and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

Starmer acknowledged that the government had to make the case for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in popularity since he announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and make that case the huge benefits ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the positive outcomes that come with this ... as has occurred in other countries, citizens say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Discussed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and relations with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. Starmer acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how India was persisting to buy oil from Russia, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on ending this conflict and the multiple measures will be implemented to that purpose," he commented. "This included a wide range of discussion, but we outlined the actions that we are taking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister also said he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian prison for almost a decade without undergoing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among Britons still held abroad.

However, Starmer did not suggest much progress had been made. "Indeed, we did raise the consular cases," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the relatives in coming weeks, as well as discussing it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is widely expected to take a comparable trade-focused trip to China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to improve diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and China.

That relationship is receiving attention because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide new proof that China is considered a security risk.

The Prime Minister clarified the United Kingdom was keen to pursue additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a trade deal with the nation was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal as such, but our stance is to cooperate where we are able, confront where we need to, and that's been the consistent policy of the government in relation to China."