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The Prime Minister has stated that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," but avoided supporting the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the Globe"

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the UK had contributed significantly in private discussions with the United States 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 accompanied by the prompt removal of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Answered

However, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time grant Donald Trump the coveted prize, the Prime Minister implied that time was needed to determine if a durable peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to move forward 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 stated at a press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Revealed During Trip to India

Starmer has celebrated a number of deals finalized during his tour to India – his first time there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The visit marks the passing of the countries' trade pact.

• The UK government has announced a range of financial commitments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, Starmer signed a military agreement worth £350m for British-made missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"The shared history is deep, the personal ties between our people are truly special," he said as he left Mumbai. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this alliance for our era."

Digital ID Initiative Studied

Starmer has dedicated time in Mumbai analyzing the national digital identification program, including consulting key figures who developed the widespread system used by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and verification.

He suggested that the UK was considering expanding the scope of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the UK would in time look at linking it to financial and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage 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, make payments so much more conveniently than is possible with alternative methods," he noted.

"The speed with which it allows citizens here to access services, especially banking options, is something that was acknowledged in our talks yesterday, and in fact a Fintech discussion that we had today. So we're examining those examples of how digital ID helps people with processes that sometimes take excessive time and are too cumbersome and simplifies them for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the administration had to make the case for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in popularity since Starmer proposed them.

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

Human Rights and Global Affairs Addressed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and ties with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made little headway. He acknowledged that he and Modi talked about how India was persisting to buy oil from Russia, which is subject to widespread western sanctions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on resolving this situation and the multiple measures will be taken to that purpose," he said. "And that was a wide range of discussion, but we outlined the steps that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister additionally mentioned he had raised the case of the UK-based activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without undergoing a full trial. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among Britons still held abroad.

But, he did not indicate much advancement had been achieved. "Yes, we did raise the consular cases," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is meeting the families in coming weeks, as well as raising it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister 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 effort to ease relations between the UK and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the UK has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that the country is deemed a security risk.

Starmer said the United Kingdom was eager to pursue additional commercial partnerships but stated that a commercial agreement with China was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to work together where we can, challenge where we must, and that's been the ongoing approach of the administration in relation to China."