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

Truce Agreement Hailed as a "Relief to the World"

Starmer remarked that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the UK had played its own role in private discussions with the US and mediators.

Speaking on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and paired with the immediate lifting of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Answered

But, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time award Donald Trump the prestigious prize, Starmer suggested that more time was needed to determine if a durable peace could be achieved.

"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 is important to me above all," he stated at a media briefing in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment Revealed During Trip to India

Starmer has celebrated a number of deals sealed during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – accompanied by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The trip marks the passing of the countries' trade pact.

• No 10 has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister finalized a defence deal worth £350m for British-made missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"Our history together is profound, the human connections between our citizens are exceptionally strong," he remarked as he left Mumbai. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this partnership for our era."

Digital Identification System Studied

Starmer has spent time in India studying the Indian digital ID system, including consulting principal architects who developed the comprehensive platform used by more than 1 billion people for social services, transactions, and identification.

The prime minister hinted 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 eventually look at connecting it to banking and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as home loan and educational enrollments.

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

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

Popular Backing for Reforms

The Prime Minister admitted that the government had to build public support for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in public approval since Starmer 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 occurred in different nations, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he stated.

Human Rights and International Relations Discussed

Starmer said he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and ties with Russia, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. Starmer acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how India was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on resolving this situation and the various steps will be taken to that purpose," he said. "This included a broad spectrum of discussion, but we did set out the actions that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister also mentioned he had raised the case of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been detained in an Indian jail for almost a decade without facing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among Britons currently detained overseas.

But, Starmer did not indicate much progress had been made. "Yes, we did raise the consular cases," he said. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is meeting the families in the near future, as well as raising it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a similar business-oriented visit to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to improve diplomatic ties between the UK and China.

That relationship is receiving attention because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide fresh evidence that China is deemed a security risk.

Starmer clarified the UK was eager to pursue additional commercial partnerships but stated that a trade deal with China was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to work together where we are able, challenge where we must, and this has been the consistent policy of the government in regarding China."