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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 endorsing the US president for a Nobel peace prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the Globe"

Starmer remarked that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the UK had contributed significantly in private discussions with the United States and mediators.

Speaking on the last day of his trade visit to India, Starmer stressed that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Answered

However, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should at this time award Trump the coveted prize, Starmer suggested that more time was needed to determine if a durable peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to move forward and implement this ... my attention now is transitioning this from the stage it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that is important to me above all," he told reporters at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Announced During India Visit

Starmer has celebrated a series of agreements finalized during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip marks the passing of the two nations' trade pact.

• No 10 has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On Thursday, Starmer finalized a military agreement worth £350m for UK missiles, produced in the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

"Our history together is deep, the personal ties between our people are truly special," he said as he departed the city. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are remaking this partnership for our times."

Digital ID System Examined

Starmer has dedicated time in India studying the national digital identification program, including meeting principal architects who developed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for benefits, payments, and verification.

He hinted that the UK was interested in expanding the application of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the UK would eventually look at linking it to banking 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 voluntary basis [in India] in massive scale, not least because it ensures that you can retrieve your own money, conduct transactions so much more easily than is available with others," he explained.

"The speed with which it allows citizens here to utilize facilities, particularly financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our talks recently, and actually a financial technology discussion that we had as well. So we're examining those examples of how digital ID helps individuals with procedures that often take excessive time and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Public Support for Changes

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

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I believe that the greater number of individuals see the benefits that accompany this ... as has happened in different nations, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and International Relations Addressed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and relations with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made little headway. He confirmed that he and Modi talked about how the country was persisting to buy Russian oil, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on ending this conflict and the various steps will be taken to that end," he said. "This included a broad spectrum of discussion, but we did set out the steps that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

Starmer additionally mentioned he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian prison for almost a decade without facing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the worst examples of injustice among UK nationals still held abroad.

However, Starmer did not suggest much advancement had been achieved. "Yes, 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 scheduled to meet the relatives in coming weeks, as well as raising it today."

Future Plans

Starmer is widely expected to take a similar business-oriented trip to China in the coming year as part of a effort to ease diplomatic ties between the UK and the Asian nation.

That relationship is receiving attention because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that China is considered a threat.

Starmer said the UK was keen to explore additional commercial partnerships but stated that a trade deal 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 cooperate where we can, confront where we must, and this has been the ongoing approach of the government in regarding China."