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The Prime Minister has declared that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "could not have happened without President Trump's leadership," yet stopped short of endorsing the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

Ceasefire Deal Welcomed as a "Relief to the World"

The prime minister remarked that the initial stage of the deal would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the United Kingdom had played its own role in private discussions with the United States and negotiators.

Speaking on the last day of his business trip to India, Starmer emphasized that the deal "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Answered

But, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should now grant Donald Trump the prestigious award, Starmer implied that time was needed to know if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to press on 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 above all," he stated at a media briefing in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment Announced During Trip to India

Starmer has hailed a series of agreements sealed during his visit to the country – his first time there – joined by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The trip signifies the passing of the countries' trade pact.

• No 10 has unveiled a slew of investments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister finalized a military agreement worth £350 million for British-made missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

"Our history together is profound, the human connections between our people are truly special," Starmer remarked as he left the city. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are remaking this alliance for our era."

Digital Identification Initiative Studied

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in Mumbai analyzing the national digital identification program, including meeting key figures who designed the widespread system used by over a billion individuals for benefits, payments, and identification.

He hinted that the UK was considering broadening the application of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the Britain would in time look at connecting it to banking and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as home loan and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a optional basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it ensures that you can access your own funds, make payments so much more easily than is possible with alternative methods," he explained.

"The speed with which it allows citizens here to utilize facilities, particularly banking options, is something that was recognized in our discussions recently, and actually a financial technology discussion that we had as well. So we're examining those examples of how digital identification helps individuals with procedures that sometimes take excessive time and are too cumbersome and simplifies them for them."

Public Support for Changes

Starmer admitted that the administration had to make the case for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in public approval since Starmer announced them.

"In my view 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 therefore I want to get on with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Addressed

Starmer said he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and relations with Russia, though he seemed to have made little headway. Starmer confirmed that he and Modi discussed how the country was persisting to buy Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on ending this situation and the multiple measures will be implemented to that purpose," he said. "And that was a broad spectrum of discussion, but we outlined the actions that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

Starmer additionally mentioned he had raised the situation of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, 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 unfair treatment among Britons still held abroad.

But, he did not suggest much progress had been achieved. "Yes, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is meeting the families in the near future, as well as raising it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is widely expected to take a comparable business-oriented visit to China in the coming year as part of a effort to ease relations between the UK and the Asian nation.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the UK has been reluctant to provide fresh evidence that China is deemed a security risk.

The Prime Minister said the UK was eager to explore additional commercial partnerships but stated that a commercial agreement with the nation was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal as such, but our stance 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."