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

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Welcome Development to the World"

Starmer remarked that the initial stage of the deal would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the UK had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Speaking on the last day of his business trip to India, Starmer emphasized that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and paired with the prompt removal of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Answered

But, when questioned if the Nobel prize committee should at this time award Trump the prestigious prize, the Prime Minister suggested that time was required to know 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 phase it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he stated at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Announced During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements sealed during his tour to India – his maiden visit there – joined by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The trip marks the passing of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, Starmer signed a defence deal worth £350m for UK missiles, produced in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"Our history together is deep, the personal ties between our citizens are exceptionally strong," Starmer said as he departed the city. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are remaking this partnership for our times."

Digital Identification Initiative Examined

The Prime Minister has spent time in India analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including consulting principal architects who designed the comprehensive platform used by more than 1 billion people for benefits, payments, and identification.

The prime minister suggested that the UK was considering broadening the application of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the UK would in time look at linking it to banking and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"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 money, make payments so much more easily than is possible with alternative methods," he noted.

"The speed with which it enables residents here to access services, particularly banking options, is something that was recognized in our talks recently, and in fact a Fintech discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those examples of how digital identification helps people with processes that sometimes take excessive time and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Public Support for Changes

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the government had to make the case for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in popularity since Starmer proposed them.

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I believe that the more people see the positive outcomes that accompany this ... as has occurred in other countries, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he stated.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Addressed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and relations with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made little headway. He acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how India was continuing to buy Russian oil, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

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

Starmer additionally mentioned he had raised the case of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian prison for almost a decade without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among Britons still held overseas.

However, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been made. "Yes, we did raise the consular cases," he said. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is meeting the relatives in coming weeks, as well as raising it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is widely expected to take a similar trade-focused trip to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to ease diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the collapse of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the UK has been unwilling to provide new proof that the country is deemed a security risk.

Starmer clarified the United Kingdom was keen to explore additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a trade deal with China 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 are able, confront where we need to, and that's been the consistent policy of the administration in relation to China."