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Keir Starmer has asserted that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "could not have happened without President Trump's leadership," but stopped short of endorsing the American leader for a Nobel peace prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the Globe"

The prime minister commented that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the UK had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Speaking on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, the British leader stressed that the deal "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and paired with the prompt removal of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Addressed

However, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time award Trump the prestigious award, the Prime Minister implied that more time was needed to determine if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"The priority now is to move forward and implement this ... my attention now is moving this from the stage it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he stated at a media briefing in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment Revealed During India Visit

Starmer has hailed a number of deals finalized during his visit to India – his first time there – joined by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The visit marks the passing of the two nations' trade pact.

• No 10 has announced a slew of investments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the production 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 the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

"The shared history is deep, the personal ties between our citizens are truly special," Starmer said as he left the city. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are remaking this alliance for our times."

Digital Identification System Examined

The Prime Minister has spent time in India studying the national digital identification program, including consulting principal architects who designed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and identification.

He suggested that the UK was considering expanding the application of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the Britain would in time look at connecting it to financial and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as home loan and school applications.

"It's been taken up on a optional basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it ensures that you can access your own money, make payments so much more conveniently than is available with others," he noted.

"The speed with which it allows residents here to utilize facilities, especially financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our discussions recently, and actually a financial technology discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those instances of how digital identification assists people with procedures that often take too long and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

The Prime Minister admitted that the administration had to make the case for the initiatives 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 believe that the more people see the positive outcomes that come with this ... as has happened in different nations, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Discussed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding human rights and ties with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. Starmer acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how India was continuing to buy Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on ending this conflict and the various steps will be taken to that purpose," he commented. "This included a broad spectrum of discussion, but we outlined the steps that we are taking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister additionally said he had brought up the situation of the UK-based activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among UK nationals currently detained abroad.

But, he did not suggest much progress had been achieved. "Indeed, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the families in the near future, as well as discussing it today."

Future Plans

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a comparable business-oriented visit to China in the coming year as part of a mission to improve diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and China.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the UK has been reluctant to provide new proof that the country is considered a security risk.

Starmer said 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 trade deal as such, but our position is to work together where we are able, challenge where we need to, and that's been the consistent policy of the government in relation to China."