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The Prime Minister has declared that the truce deal in Gaza "could not have happened without President Trump's leadership," but stopped short of endorsing the American leader for a Nobel peace prize.

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

Starmer commented that the first phase of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly in private discussions with the United States and negotiators.

Speaking on the last day of his trade visit to India, the British leader emphasized that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Addressed

But, when questioned if the Nobel committee should now award Trump the coveted award, Starmer implied that more time was required to know if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to move forward 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 above all," he stated at a media briefing in Mumbai.

Business Deals Revealed During India Visit

Starmer has celebrated a number of deals sealed during his tour to the country – his first time there – joined by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip marks the passing of the two nations' trade pact.

• The UK government 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 United Kingdom.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister finalized a defence deal worth £350 million for UK missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"Our history together is deep, the human connections between our people are truly special," Starmer said as he left Mumbai. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this alliance for our times."

Digital Identification System Examined

The Prime Minister has spent time in India analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including meeting key figures who developed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for social services, payments, and verification.

The prime minister suggested that the United Kingdom was considering expanding 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 financial and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and school applications.

"It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it ensures that you can retrieve your own funds, conduct transactions so much more easily than is available with alternative methods," he explained.

"The speed with which it enables residents here to utilize facilities, particularly financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our talks recently, and in fact a Fintech discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those examples of how digital ID assists individuals with processes that often take too long and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

The Prime Minister admitted that the administration had to make the case for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in public approval since he announced them.

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I think that the more people see the benefits that come with this ... as has happened in different nations, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Addressed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and relations with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made little headway. He acknowledged that he and Modi talked about how India was persisting to buy Russian oil, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on ending this conflict and the various steps will be implemented to that purpose," he said. "This included a broad spectrum of discussion, but we outlined the steps that we are taking in regarding energy."

Starmer additionally mentioned he had brought up the case of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without undergoing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the worst examples of injustice among Britons currently detained overseas.

However, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been achieved. "Indeed, we did raise 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 scheduled to meet the families in coming weeks, as well as raising it now."

Future Plans

The prime minister is widely expected to take a similar 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.

That relationship is receiving attention because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the UK has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that China is considered a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the UK was eager to pursue other trading relationships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with China was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to cooperate where we are able, confront where we must, and that's been the ongoing approach of the administration in regarding China."