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The Prime Minister has asserted that the truce deal in Gaza "could not have happened without the leadership of Donald Trump," but stopped short of endorsing the US president for a Nobel peace prize.

Truce Agreement Hailed as a "Relief to the World"

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the UK had contributed significantly in private discussions with the US and negotiators.

Speaking on the last day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer emphasized that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and paired with the prompt removal of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Addressed

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

"The priority now is to move forward and execute this ... my attention now is transitioning this from the stage it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me above all," he told reporters at a press conference in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Revealed During India Visit

The Prime Minister has celebrated a series of agreements finalized during his visit to India – his first time there – accompanied by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The visit signifies the passing of the countries' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has unveiled a slew of investments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister signed a military agreement worth £350 million for UK missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian army.

"Our history together is profound, the personal ties between our citizens are exceptionally strong," Starmer remarked as he departed the city. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are remaking this partnership for our era."

Digital Identification System Studied

Starmer has dedicated time in India studying the national digital identification program, including consulting principal architects who designed the widespread system utilized by more than 1 billion people for social services, payments, and verification.

He hinted that the United Kingdom was interested in expanding the scope of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the Britain would eventually look at connecting it to financial and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, partly because it ensures that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more easily than is available with others," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it enables residents here to access services, particularly financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our discussions yesterday, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had today. So we're examining those examples of how digital identification helps individuals with processes that often take too long and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Reforms

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the government had to make the case for the reforms to the British public, which have declined sharply in popularity since Starmer proposed them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I believe that the more people see the positive outcomes that accompany this ... as has occurred in different nations, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and relations with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made little headway. Starmer confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how the country was persisting to buy Russian oil, which is subject to widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on resolving this conflict and the multiple measures will be implemented to that purpose," he said. "And that was a wide range of dialogue, but we outlined the actions that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

Starmer also mentioned he had brought up the situation of the UK-based activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian jail for almost a decade without facing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among Britons currently detained abroad.

However, he did not suggest much progress had been made. "Yes, 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 foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the relatives in coming weeks, as well as discussing it today."

Future Plans

The prime minister is widely expected to take a comparable trade-focused trip to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to ease diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and China.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide new proof that the country is considered a threat.

Starmer clarified the United Kingdom was eager to explore additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with the nation was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to cooperate where we are able, confront where we need to, and this has been the ongoing approach of the administration in relation to China."