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Keir Starmer has stated that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," but stopped short of supporting the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Hailed as a "Relief to the World"

The prime minister remarked that the first phase of the deal would be a "relief to the world" 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 agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and paired with the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Answered

But, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time grant Donald Trump the coveted prize, Starmer suggested that more time was needed to determine if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to press on and execute this ... my focus now is transitioning 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.

Business Deals Announced During Trip to India

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

• The UK government has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister finalized a military agreement worth £350 million for British-made missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be used by the Indian military.

"The shared history is deep, the personal ties between our people are exceptionally strong," Starmer said as he left the city. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this alliance for our times."

Digital ID System Examined

Starmer has spent time in India studying the Indian digital ID system, including consulting key figures who developed the widespread system utilized by more than 1 billion people for social services, transactions, and identification.

The prime minister suggested that the United Kingdom was interested in broadening the scope of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the UK would in time look at linking it to financial and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for official procedures such as home loan and educational enrollments.

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

"The efficiency with which it allows residents here to utilize facilities, especially financial services, is something that was recognized in our discussions recently, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had as well. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID helps people with procedures that sometimes 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 initiatives to the British public, which have declined sharply in popularity since he proposed 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 other countries, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Discussed

Starmer said he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding human rights and relations with Russia, though he appeared to have made little headway. Starmer confirmed that he and Modi talked about how the country was persisting to purchase oil from Russia, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on resolving this situation and the various steps will be taken to that end," he said. "This included a wide range of discussion, but we did set out the steps that we are taking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister additionally mentioned he had brought up the case of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian prison for almost a decade without facing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the worst examples of injustice among Britons currently detained abroad.

But, he did not suggest much progress had been made. "Yes, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is scheduled to meet the families in the near future, as well as raising it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is widely expected to take a similar trade-focused visit to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a effort 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 UK has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that China is deemed a security risk.

Starmer clarified the United Kingdom was keen to pursue additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a trade deal with the nation was not on the agenda. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to cooperate where we can, challenge where we must, and this has been the consistent policy of the administration in regarding China."