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

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the Globe"

Starmer commented that the first phase of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the US and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his trade visit to India, Starmer emphasized that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and paired with the immediate lifting of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Addressed

But, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time grant Donald Trump the prestigious award, the Prime Minister suggested that time was required to determine if a durable peace could be achieved.

"The priority now is to move forward and implement this ... my focus now is transitioning 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 press conference in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Revealed During Trip to India

Starmer has hailed a series of agreements finalized during his tour to India – his maiden visit there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The visit signifies the passing of the countries' trade pact.

• The UK government has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On the final day, Starmer signed a military agreement worth £350m for British-made missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

"Our history together is deep, the human connections between our citizens are truly special," he said as he left the city. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this partnership for our times."

Digital ID Initiative Examined

Starmer has dedicated time in India studying the Indian digital ID system, including consulting key figures who designed the widespread system used by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and identification.

The prime minister suggested that the United Kingdom was interested in broadening the scope of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the UK would eventually look at linking it to banking and payments systems – on a optional 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 huge numbers, not least because it means that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is possible with others," he noted.

"The speed with which it allows residents here to access services, particularly financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our discussions recently, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had today. So we're examining those instances of how digital ID helps people with processes that often take excessive time and are too cumbersome and simplifies them for them."

Public Support for Changes

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

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the positive outcomes that come with this ... as has occurred in other countries, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and International Relations Addressed

Starmer said he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and ties with Russia, though he seemed to have made little headway. Starmer acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how the country was persisting to purchase oil from Russia, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on resolving this conflict and the various steps will be implemented to that end," he said. "And that was a broad spectrum of discussion, but we did set out the actions that we are taking in relation to energy."

Starmer also mentioned he had brought up the case of the UK-based activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian jail for almost a decade without facing a full trial. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of injustice among Britons currently detained abroad.

However, he did not suggest much advancement had been made. "Yes, we brought up 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 meeting the families in coming weeks, as well as discussing it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a similar trade-focused trip to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to ease relations between the UK and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, said to have happened because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide new proof that the country is deemed a threat.

Starmer said the UK was eager to pursue additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with China was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to cooperate where we can, confront where we must, and that's been the consistent policy of the administration in relation to China."