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

Ceasefire Deal Welcomed as a "Welcome Development to the Globe"

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

Speaking on the last day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Addressed

However, when questioned if the Nobel committee should now grant Donald Trump the prestigious award, the Prime Minister suggested that time was needed to determine if a durable peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to move forward and execute this ... my attention now is moving this from the stage 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 Announced During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has celebrated a series of agreements finalized during his tour to the country – his first time there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit marks the implementation of the countries' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has announced 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 military agreement worth £350 million for British-made missiles, produced in the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

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

Digital Identification Initiative Examined

Starmer has dedicated time in Mumbai studying the national digital identification program, including consulting principal architects who developed the widespread system utilized by over a billion individuals for benefits, payments, and identification.

He suggested that the UK was considering expanding the application of digital identification beyond making it compulsory 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 administrative tasks such as home loan and school applications.

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

"The speed with which it enables citizens here to access services, especially financial services, is something that was recognized in our discussions yesterday, and in fact a Fintech discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID assists people with procedures that sometimes take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

Starmer admitted that the administration had to build public support for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in public approval since he announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and make that case the significant advantages ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the benefits that accompany 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.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Addressed

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

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on ending this situation and the various steps will be implemented to that end," he commented. "And that was a broad spectrum of discussion, but we did set out the steps that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

Starmer also said he had brought up the case of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without undergoing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among Britons still held overseas.

However, he did not suggest much advancement had been achieved. "Indeed, we brought up the consular cases," he said. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is meeting the families in coming weeks, as well as discussing it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is widely expected to take a comparable trade-focused trip to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a effort to improve 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 new proof that the country is considered a threat.

Starmer said the United Kingdom was eager to explore other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with China was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our stance is to work together where we can, confront where we must, and this has been the ongoing approach of the administration in regarding China."