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Keir Starmer has stated that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "could not have happened without the leadership of Donald Trump," but stopped short of endorsing the US president for a Nobel peace prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the World"

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly in private discussions with the US and mediators.

Speaking on the last day of his trade visit to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the deal "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and paired with the prompt removal of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Addressed

But, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should at this time grant Trump the prestigious prize, the Prime Minister implied that time was needed to know if a durable peace could be attained.

"The priority now is to move forward and execute this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the phase it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me above all," he stated at a press conference in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Revealed During India Visit

Starmer has celebrated a series of agreements sealed during his tour to the country – his first time there – accompanied by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The visit signifies the passing of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has unveiled a slew of investments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On Thursday, Starmer finalized a military agreement worth £350m for UK missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be used by the Indian military.

"The shared history is deep, the personal ties between our citizens are exceptionally strong," he said as he departed Mumbai. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are remaking this partnership for our times."

Digital Identification Initiative Examined

The Prime Minister has spent time in Mumbai analyzing the national digital identification program, including meeting key figures who designed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for benefits, payments, and verification.

The prime minister hinted that the United Kingdom was interested in broadening the application of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility 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 educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a optional basis [in India] in massive scale, partly because it ensures that you can access your own money, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is available with alternative methods," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it allows residents here to access services, particularly banking options, is something that was acknowledged in our discussions recently, and in fact a Fintech discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID helps individuals with procedures that often take excessive time and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

The Prime Minister admitted that the administration had to make the case for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have plummeted 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 come with this ... as has happened in other countries, citizens say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed

Starmer said he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding human rights and ties with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. He acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how India was persisting to buy Russian oil, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on ending this conflict and the multiple measures will be taken to that purpose," he said. "This included a wide range of discussion, but we did set out the steps that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

Starmer additionally said he had brought up the case of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, 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 injustice among UK nationals currently detained abroad.

But, Starmer did not suggest much advancement had been made. "Indeed, 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 relatives in the near future, as well as discussing it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is widely expected to take a comparable trade-focused visit to China in the coming year as part of a effort to ease diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the UK has been reluctant to provide new proof that China is deemed a threat.

Starmer said the UK was keen to explore other trading relationships but stated 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, challenge where we must, and this has been the consistent policy of the government in regarding China."