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Keir Starmer has declared 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 "Welcome Development to the World"

The prime minister remarked that the initial stage of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the UK had contributed significantly in private discussions with the US and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, the British leader emphasized that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the prompt removal of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Answered

But, when asked if the Nobel committee should now award Trump the coveted award, the Prime Minister suggested that time was needed to determine if a durable peace could be attained.

"The priority now is to press on and implement this ... my focus now is moving this from the phase it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he told reporters at a press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Announced During India Visit

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements sealed during his visit to India – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit signifies the passing of the two nations' trade pact.

• The UK government has unveiled a slew of investments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister signed a military agreement worth £350 million for UK missiles, produced in the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

"The shared history is deep, the personal ties between our citizens are exceptionally strong," Starmer said as he departed the city. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this alliance for our era."

Digital ID Initiative Studied

Starmer has dedicated time in India analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including consulting key figures who developed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and identification.

The prime minister suggested that the UK was considering broadening the scope of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the Britain would eventually look at linking it to financial and transaction networks – on a optional 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, not least because it means that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more easily than is available with others," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it enables residents here to access services, particularly financial services, is something that was recognized in our talks yesterday, and actually a financial technology discussion that we had today. So we're examining those instances of how digital ID helps people with procedures that sometimes take excessive time and are too cumbersome and simplifies them for them."

Public Support for Changes

The Prime Minister admitted that the administration had to make the case for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in popularity since Starmer 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 come with this ... as has occurred in different nations, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Addressed

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

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on resolving this situation and the multiple measures will be implemented to that end," he said. "And that was a broad spectrum of discussion, but we outlined the steps that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister additionally mentioned he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian prison for almost a decade without undergoing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among UK nationals still held overseas.

However, Starmer did not suggest much advancement had been made. "Indeed, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is scheduled to meet the families in the near future, as well as discussing it now."

Future Plans

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 relations between the UK and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the UK has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that the country is considered a threat.

Starmer said the United Kingdom was eager to explore additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with China was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, 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 administration in regarding China."