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The Prime Minister has stated 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.

Truce Agreement Hailed 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 UK had played its own role behind the scenes with the US and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his trade visit to India, Starmer emphasized that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Answered

However, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should now award Donald Trump the coveted prize, the Prime Minister suggested that time was needed to determine if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"The priority now is to press on 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 more than anything else," he told reporters at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Revealed During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has hailed a number of deals finalized during his tour to India – his first time there – joined by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The visit signifies the passing of the countries' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On Thursday, Starmer finalized a military agreement worth £350m for British-made missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

"Our history together is deep, the human connections between our citizens are exceptionally strong," he remarked as he left the city. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are remaking this alliance for our times."

Digital ID Initiative Examined

The Prime Minister has spent time in India studying the national digital identification program, including consulting principal architects who developed the widespread system utilized by more than 1 billion people for social services, transactions, and verification.

The prime minister hinted that the United Kingdom was interested in broadening the scope of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the Britain would in time look at connecting it to banking and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and school applications.

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

"The efficiency with which it allows residents here to utilize facilities, particularly banking options, is something that was recognized in our talks recently, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had as well. So we're looking at those examples of how digital identification helps individuals with processes that often take excessive time and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the government had to build public support for the reforms to the British public, which have plummeted in public approval since he announced them.

"In my view now we need to go out and make that case 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, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Discussed

Starmer confirmed he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and relations with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made little headway. Starmer acknowledged that he and Modi talked about how India was continuing to purchase Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on resolving this situation and the multiple measures will be implemented to that end," he commented. "And that was a wide range of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

Starmer additionally mentioned he had brought up the case of the UK-based activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian prison for nearly eight years without facing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among Britons still held overseas.

However, he did not indicate much progress had been achieved. "Indeed, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he said. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is meeting the families in the near future, as well as raising it now."

Future Plans

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a comparable trade-focused 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.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, said to have happened because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide fresh evidence that China is considered a threat.

Starmer said the United Kingdom was eager to pursue additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a trade deal with China was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to work together where we are able, challenge where we need to, and this has been the consistent policy of the administration in relation to China."