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Keir Starmer has declared that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," but avoided endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the World"

Starmer remarked that the first phase of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the UK had contributed significantly in private discussions with the United States and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer emphasized that the deal "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and paired with the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Addressed

However, when asked if the Nobel committee should now grant Donald Trump the prestigious award, the Prime Minister implied that more time was needed to know if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"The priority now is to move forward and implement this ... my attention now is transitioning this from the stage it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that is important to me above all," he stated at a press conference in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Revealed During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements finalized during his visit to India – his maiden visit there – accompanied by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The visit signifies the passing of the two nations' 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 UK.
• On Thursday, Starmer finalized a defence deal worth £350 million for British-made missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian army.

"Our history together is deep, the human connections between our citizens are truly special," he said as he departed Mumbai. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this partnership for our times."

Digital ID System Studied

Starmer has spent time in Mumbai analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including meeting principal architects who developed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and identification.

The prime minister hinted that the UK was interested in broadening the application of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the UK would in time look at linking it to financial and transaction networks – on a optional basis – as well as for official procedures such as home loan 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, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is possible with alternative methods," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it enables residents here to access services, particularly financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our discussions yesterday, and in fact a financial technology conversation that we had as well. So we're examining those examples of how digital identification helps individuals with processes that often take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

Starmer acknowledged that the government had to build public support for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in popularity since he announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and make that case the huge benefits ... And I think that the more people see the positive outcomes that accompany this ... as has happened in other countries, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and International Relations Addressed

Starmer confirmed he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and relations with Russia, though he appeared to have made little headway. He acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how the country was persisting to buy oil from Russia, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

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

The Prime Minister also said he had raised the case of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian prison for nearly eight years without undergoing a full trial. 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 did raise the diplomatic matters," he said. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is scheduled to meet the relatives in coming weeks, as well as raising it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a comparable business-oriented 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.

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 China is considered a threat.

The Prime Minister said the UK was keen to pursue other trading relationships 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 work together where we can, challenge where we need to, and that's been the consistent policy of the administration in relation to China."