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The Prime Minister has declared that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "could not have happened without the leadership of Donald Trump," yet avoided endorsing the American leader for a Nobel peace prize.

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

Starmer remarked that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the United Kingdom had played its own role behind the scenes with the United States and mediators.

Speaking on the final day of his trade visit to India, Starmer stressed that the deal "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and paired with the immediate lifting of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Addressed

However, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time award Donald Trump the prestigious award, Starmer suggested that time was required to determine if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"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 matters to me more than anything else," he told reporters at a media briefing in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment Revealed 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 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The trip signifies the passing of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has announced a range of financial commitments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister signed a military agreement worth £350 million for British-made missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"The shared history is deep, the human connections between our people are truly special," Starmer remarked as he departed the city. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are remaking this alliance for our era."

Digital Identification Initiative Examined

Starmer has spent time in India analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including meeting key figures who designed the comprehensive platform utilized by more than 1 billion people for benefits, payments, and verification.

The prime minister hinted that the UK was interested in expanding the scope of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility 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 official procedures such as mortgage and school applications.

"It has been adopted on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, partly because it means that you can retrieve your own money, conduct transactions so much more easily than is possible with alternative methods," he noted.

"The speed with which it allows citizens here to utilize facilities, especially financial services, is something that was recognized in our talks yesterday, and actually a financial technology discussion that we had as well. So we're examining those examples of how digital identification assists individuals with processes that often take too long and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

Starmer acknowledged that the government had to build public support for the reforms 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 more people see the benefits that come with this ... as has happened in different nations, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and International Relations Addressed

Starmer said he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and relations with Russia, though he appeared to have made little headway. He acknowledged that he and Modi talked about how India was persisting to purchase oil from Russia, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on resolving this conflict and the various steps will be taken to that purpose," he commented. "This included a wide range of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are taking 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 held in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without undergoing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of injustice among UK nationals currently detained overseas.

However, Starmer did not indicate much progress had been made. "Yes, we did raise the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is meeting the families in the near future, as well as raising it now."

Future Plans

The prime minister is widely expected to take a similar business-oriented trip to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a mission to improve diplomatic ties between the UK and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide new proof that the country is considered a threat.

Starmer said the UK was eager to explore additional commercial partnerships but stated that a commercial agreement with China was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to cooperate where we are able, challenge where we need to, and that's been the consistent policy of the administration in regarding China."