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The Prime Minister has declared that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "could not have happened without the leadership of Donald Trump," yet stopped short of endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Ceasefire Deal Hailed as a "Relief to the Globe"

The prime minister remarked that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the UK had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the US and negotiators.

Speaking on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer emphasized that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and paired with the prompt removal of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Answered

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

"What matters now is to press on and implement this ... my attention now is moving this from the stage 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.

Business Deals Revealed During Trip to India

Starmer has hailed a number of deals sealed during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The trip marks the implementation of the countries' trade pact.

• No 10 has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister signed a defence deal worth £350 million for UK missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"Our history together is profound, the human connections between our people are exceptionally strong," Starmer remarked as he left the city. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this alliance for our era."

Digital ID System Studied

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

The prime minister suggested that the UK was interested in expanding the application of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the UK would in time look at connecting it to banking and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and school applications.

"It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in massive scale, partly because it means that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is possible with others," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it enables citizens here to utilize facilities, particularly banking options, is something that was acknowledged in our talks recently, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had as well. So we're examining those instances of how digital identification helps people with procedures that sometimes take excessive time and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Changes

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

"In my view now we need to go out and make that case the significant advantages ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the benefits that accompany this ... as has occurred in different nations, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he stated.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Addressed

Starmer said he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding human rights and ties with Russia, though he appeared to have made little headway. He confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how India was persisting to buy oil from Russia, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

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

Starmer also said he had brought up the situation of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Scotland, who has been detained in an Indian prison for nearly eight years without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among UK nationals currently detained abroad.

But, Starmer did not suggest much progress had been achieved. "Indeed, we brought up the consular cases," he said. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is meeting the families in the near future, as well as raising it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a similar trade-focused visit 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 receiving attention because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the UK has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that China is deemed a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the United Kingdom was eager to pursue other trading relationships but emphasized that a trade deal 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 are able, confront where we need to, and this has been the ongoing approach of the administration in relation to China."