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Keir Starmer has asserted that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," yet avoided supporting the US president for a Nobel peace prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the World"

Starmer remarked that the first phase of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly in private discussions with the United States and mediators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his trade visit to India, the British leader emphasized that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Addressed

However, when asked if the Nobel committee should now grant Trump the prestigious prize, Starmer implied that more time was needed to determine if a durable peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to move forward and implement this ... my attention now is transitioning this from the phase it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me more than anything else," he told reporters at a press conference in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment Revealed During Trip to India

Starmer has celebrated a number of deals sealed during his tour to India – his first time there – accompanied by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The trip signifies the passing of the two nations' trade pact.

• The UK government has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister signed a defence deal worth £350 million for UK missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian military.

"Our history together is profound, the human connections between our people are exceptionally strong," he remarked as he departed the city. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are remaking this partnership for our era."

Digital ID System Examined

Starmer has spent time in India studying the Indian digital ID system, including meeting principal architects who designed the widespread system used by over a billion individuals for social services, payments, and verification.

He hinted that the UK was interested in expanding the application of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the Britain would eventually look at connecting it to financial and transaction networks – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a voluntary basis [in India] in massive scale, partly because it ensures that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more easily than is available with alternative methods," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it allows residents here to access services, particularly financial services, is something that was recognized in our discussions recently, and actually a Fintech discussion that we had as well. So we're looking at those examples of how digital ID helps individuals with procedures that sometimes take excessive time and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Changes

Starmer acknowledged that the administration had to make the case for the initiatives to the British public, which have declined sharply in public approval since Starmer proposed them.

"I think now we need to go out and make that case the significant advantages ... And I believe that the more people see the positive outcomes that come with this ... as has occurred in different nations, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Addressed

Starmer confirmed he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding human rights and ties with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. Starmer acknowledged that he and Modi talked about how India was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is subject to widespread western sanctions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on ending this conflict and the various steps will be taken to that purpose," he said. "And that was a wide range of dialogue, but we did set out the steps that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

Starmer also mentioned he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Scotland, who has been detained in an Indian prison for almost a decade without undergoing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among Britons currently detained overseas.

But, Starmer did not suggest much progress had been made. "Indeed, we did raise the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is scheduled to meet the relatives in the near future, as well as discussing it now."

Future Plans

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a similar trade-focused trip to China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to improve diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide fresh evidence that the country is considered a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the UK was eager to explore other trading relationships but stated that a trade deal with the nation was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to work together where we are able, challenge where we need to, and this has been the consistent policy of the administration in relation to China."