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Keir Starmer has declared that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," but stopped short of supporting the American leader for a Nobel peace prize.

Ceasefire Deal Welcomed as a "Welcome Development to the Globe"

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the UK had played its own role in private discussions with the US and mediators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his trade visit to India, Starmer stressed that the deal "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and paired with the immediate lifting of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Answered

But, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should now grant Trump the prestigious award, the Prime Minister suggested that more time was needed to know if a durable peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to move forward and execute this ... my attention now is moving 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 press conference in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Announced During India Visit

Starmer has hailed a number of deals sealed during his tour to India – his maiden visit there – joined by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The visit marks the passing of the countries' trade pact.

• The UK government has announced a range of financial commitments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On the final day, Starmer signed a military agreement worth £350m for UK missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian army.

"The shared history is profound, the personal ties between our citizens are truly special," Starmer remarked as he departed the city. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this alliance for our times."

Digital Identification Initiative Studied

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including consulting key figures who developed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for benefits, payments, and identification.

He suggested that the UK was considering expanding the scope of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the UK would eventually look at connecting it to banking and transaction networks – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as home loan and educational enrollments.

"It's been taken up on a optional basis [in India] in massive scale, partly because it means that you can retrieve your own money, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is available with others," he explained.

"The speed with which it enables residents here to utilize facilities, particularly financial services, is something that was recognized in our talks yesterday, and actually a financial technology discussion that we had as well. So we're looking at those examples of how digital ID helps people with procedures that often take too long and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

Starmer acknowledged that the administration had to make the case for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in public approval since he announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and make that case the huge benefits ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the benefits that come with this ... as has occurred in other countries, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to get on with it," he stated.

Human Rights and International Relations Addressed

The Prime Minister said he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding human rights and ties with Russia, though he appeared to have made little headway. Starmer acknowledged that he and Modi discussed how the country was continuing to buy oil from Russia, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on ending this situation and the various steps will be taken to that purpose," he commented. "And that was a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we outlined the actions that we are taking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister also mentioned he had raised the case of the UK-based activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian prison for nearly eight years without undergoing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the worst examples of injustice among UK nationals still held overseas.

However, Starmer did not indicate much progress had been made. "Yes, we did raise the consular cases," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is meeting the families in the near future, as well as discussing it now."

Future Plans

Starmer is widely expected to take a comparable trade-focused trip to China in the coming year as part of a mission to improve relations between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide new proof that China is deemed a security risk.

The Prime Minister said the United Kingdom was eager to pursue other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with China was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to work together where we can, challenge where we must, and this has been the ongoing approach of the government in regarding China."