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Keir Starmer has asserted that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "could not have happened without President Trump's leadership," yet stopped short of supporting the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

Ceasefire Deal Hailed as a "Relief to the World"

Starmer remarked that the first phase of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the United Kingdom had played its own role in private discussions with the United States and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his trade visit to India, the British leader emphasized that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Answered

However, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time grant Trump the prestigious award, the Prime Minister suggested that more time was required 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 phase it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that matters 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 finalized during his tour to India – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The visit marks the passing of the countries' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, Starmer finalized a defence deal worth £350m for British-made missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"The shared history is profound, the personal ties between our people are truly special," Starmer said as he left Mumbai. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are remaking this alliance for our times."

Digital Identification Initiative Studied

Starmer has dedicated time in Mumbai analyzing the national digital identification program, including meeting key figures who designed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and verification.

The prime minister suggested that the UK was interested in broadening the application of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the Britain would eventually look at linking it to banking and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks 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 means that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is available with alternative methods," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it enables citizens here to utilize facilities, especially banking options, is something that was recognized in our talks recently, and in fact a Fintech conversation that we had as well. So we're examining those instances of how digital ID helps individuals with procedures that sometimes take too long and are too cumbersome and simplifies them for them."

Public Support for Changes

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the government had to build public support for the reforms to the British public, which have declined sharply in public approval since he proposed 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 benefits that accompany this ... as has happened in different nations, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and consequently I want to get on with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Discussed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and relations with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. He confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how the country was persisting to buy Russian oil, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on ending this situation and the multiple measures will be taken to that end," he said. "And that was a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we outlined the actions that we are taking in regarding energy."

Starmer additionally mentioned he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without facing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among UK nationals still held abroad.

But, he did not suggest much advancement had been made. "Yes, we did raise the diplomatic matters," he said. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the relatives in the near future, as well as raising it today."

Future Plans

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a similar business-oriented visit 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 China.

That relationship is receiving attention because of the collapse of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that the country is considered a security risk.

Starmer said the United Kingdom was keen to pursue additional commercial partnerships but stated that a trade deal with the nation was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to work together where we can, confront where we must, and that's been the ongoing approach of the administration in relation to China."