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Keir Starmer has declared that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," yet stopped short of endorsing the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Hailed as a "Relief to the World"

The prime minister commented that the first phase of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the UK had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the United States and mediators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer emphasized that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Addressed

But, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should now grant Trump the coveted award, Starmer suggested that time was needed to determine if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to press on and implement this ... my attention 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 told reporters at a media briefing in Mumbai.

Business Deals Revealed During Trip to India

Starmer has celebrated a series of agreements sealed during his tour to India – his maiden visit there – accompanied by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The trip marks the passing of the countries' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has announced a range of financial commitments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On the final day, Starmer finalized a military agreement worth £350 million for British-made missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"Our history together is deep, the personal ties between our citizens are exceptionally strong," Starmer said as he left Mumbai. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this partnership for our era."

Digital ID Initiative Studied

The Prime Minister has spent time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including consulting key figures who designed the comprehensive platform used by more than 1 billion people for benefits, transactions, and verification.

He suggested that the UK was interested in broadening the application of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the UK would in time look at connecting it to financial and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it means that you can access your own money, conduct transactions so much more easily than is possible with alternative methods," he explained.

"The speed with which it allows residents here to utilize facilities, especially banking options, is something that was recognized in our discussions recently, and in fact a Fintech conversation that we had today. So we're examining those instances of how digital ID helps individuals with procedures that sometimes take excessive time and are too cumbersome and simplifies them for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

The Prime Minister admitted that the administration had to build public support for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in popularity since Starmer proposed them.

"In my view 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 come with this ... as has occurred in other countries, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and consequently I want to get on with it," he stated.

Human Rights and International Relations Addressed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and ties with Russia, though he appeared to have made little headway. Starmer confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how the country was continuing to buy Russian oil, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on ending this conflict and the multiple measures will be taken to that purpose," he said. "This included a wide range of discussion, but we outlined the actions that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

Starmer additionally said he had brought up the situation of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian prison for almost a decade without facing a full trial. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among Britons still held abroad.

However, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been achieved. "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 families in coming weeks, as well as raising it now."

Future Plans

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 mission to ease relations between the UK and China.

That relationship is receiving attention because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the UK has been reluctant to provide fresh evidence that China is deemed a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the United Kingdom was keen to explore additional commercial partnerships but stated that a commercial agreement with China was not on the agenda. "That's not on our list, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to cooperate where we are able, confront where we need to, and this has been the consistent policy of the administration in relation to China."