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

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Welcome Development to the World"

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the deal would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had played its own role behind the scenes with the US and mediators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, the British leader stressed that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and paired with the immediate lifting of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Answered

However, when asked if the Nobel committee should at this time award Donald Trump the coveted award, the Prime Minister suggested that more time was required to know if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to move forward and execute this ... my focus now is moving this from the stage it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he stated at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Announced During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has celebrated a series of agreements sealed during his visit to India – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit signifies the implementation of the two nations' trade pact.

• The UK government has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On the final day, Starmer finalized a defence deal worth £350m for UK missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian army.

"Our history together is deep, the human connections between our people are exceptionally strong," Starmer said as he departed Mumbai. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this alliance for our era."

Digital ID System Studied

The Prime Minister has spent time in India studying the national digital identification program, including consulting key figures who developed the widespread system used by over a billion individuals for social services, payments, and verification.

The prime minister hinted that the UK was considering broadening the application of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the Britain would in time look at linking it to banking and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

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

"The efficiency with which it allows citizens here to utilize facilities, especially financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our discussions yesterday, and in fact a Fintech discussion that we had as well. So we're looking at those examples of how digital ID helps individuals with processes that sometimes take too long and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the administration had to make the case for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in public approval since he proposed them.

"I think now we need to go out and make that case the significant advantages ... And I think that the more people see the benefits that come with this ... as has occurred in different nations, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Addressed

Starmer said he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding human rights and relations with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. Starmer confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how the country was persisting to purchase oil from Russia, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on ending this situation and the multiple measures will be taken to that purpose," he commented. "And that was a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are taking in relation to energy."

The Prime Minister also mentioned he had brought up the situation of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of injustice among UK nationals currently detained overseas.

However, he did not suggest much progress had been achieved. "Indeed, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the opportunity to do so. I must add that the top diplomat 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 comparable business-oriented trip to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a mission to improve diplomatic ties between the UK and China.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that China is deemed a threat.

The Prime Minister said the United Kingdom was eager to explore additional commercial partnerships but stated 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 stance is to work together where we are able, challenge where we need to, and that's been the consistent policy of the administration in relation to China."