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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 US president for a Nobel peace prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the Globe"

The prime minister commented that the initial stage of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the UK had contributed significantly in private discussions with the US and mediators.

Addressing the media on the final 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 asked if the Nobel committee should now grant Donald Trump the coveted award, Starmer suggested that time was required to know if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"The priority now is to press on and execute 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 India's financial capital.

Business Deals Announced During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has celebrated a number of deals sealed during his visit to the country – his maiden visit there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The trip signifies the implementation of the countries' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has announced a slew of investments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister signed a military agreement worth £350m for UK missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"The shared history is profound, the human connections between our citizens are truly special," Starmer said as he left Mumbai. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this alliance for our era."

Digital Identification System Studied

Starmer has dedicated time in Mumbai analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including consulting key figures who designed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and verification.

He hinted that the United Kingdom was considering expanding the application of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the Britain would eventually look at linking it to financial and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage 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 access your own money, make payments so much more easily than is available with alternative methods," he explained.

"The speed with which it enables residents here to utilize facilities, especially banking options, is something that was recognized in our talks recently, and in fact a Fintech discussion that we had as well. So we're looking at those examples of how digital ID helps individuals with procedures that sometimes take too long and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Changes

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the administration had to make the case for the initiatives 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 huge benefits ... And I believe that the more people see the benefits that come with this ... as has occurred in different nations, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed

Starmer said he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and relations with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. Starmer confirmed that he and Modi discussed how India was persisting to buy oil from Russia, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on resolving this situation and the various steps will be implemented to that end," he commented. "This included a wide range of dialogue, but we did set out the steps that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

The Prime Minister also said he had brought up the case of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among UK nationals still held abroad.

However, he did not suggest much advancement had been made. "Indeed, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he said. "We always raise them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is meeting the families in coming weeks, as well as discussing it now."

Future Plans

The prime minister is widely expected to take a comparable trade-focused visit to China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to ease relations between the UK and China.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the UK has been reluctant to provide new proof that China is deemed a threat.

Starmer clarified the UK was keen to explore other trading relationships but emphasized that a commercial agreement 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 work together where we can, challenge where we need to, and this has been the consistent policy of the government in relation to China."