Starmer Applauds President Trump's Gaza Truce Deal – However Declines of Peace Prize Endorsement

Keir Starmer has asserted that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," but stopped short of endorsing the US president for a Nobel peace prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Welcome Development to the World"

The prime minister commented that the first phase of the deal would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the UK had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the United States and mediators.

Speaking on the last day of his trade visit to India, Starmer emphasized that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Addressed

However, when asked if the Nobel committee should at this time award Donald Trump the prestigious prize, Starmer suggested that more time was needed to know if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"The priority now is to press on and implement this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the phase it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me above all," he stated at a press conference in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Revealed During India Visit

Starmer has celebrated a series of agreements finalized during his tour to India – his maiden visit there – joined by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The trip marks the passing of the countries' trade pact.

• No 10 has unveiled a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister signed a military agreement worth £350m for British-made missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"Our history together is profound, the human connections between our citizens are truly special," Starmer remarked as he left Mumbai. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this partnership for our era."

Digital Identification System Examined

Starmer has spent time in India analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including consulting principal architects who developed the widespread system used by more than 1 billion people for social services, payments, and verification.

The prime minister hinted that the United Kingdom was interested in broadening the scope of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the Britain would in time look at linking it to banking and payments systems – on a optional 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 means that you can retrieve your own money, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is possible with others," he noted.

"The speed with which it allows residents here to access services, especially financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our talks yesterday, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had as well. So we're looking at those examples of how digital ID assists individuals with processes that sometimes take excessive time and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Public Support for Reforms

Starmer acknowledged that the government had to make the case for the initiatives to the British public, which have plummeted in public approval since he proposed them.

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I believe that the more people see the positive outcomes that accompany this ... as has happened in different nations, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and consequently I want to get on with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and International Relations Addressed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding human rights and ties with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. Starmer acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how India was persisting to buy Russian oil, which is subject to widespread western sanctions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on resolving this conflict and the multiple measures will be taken to that end," he commented. "This included a wide range of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are undertaking in relation to 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 prison for nearly eight years without undergoing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among UK nationals still held overseas.

However, he did not indicate much advancement had been achieved. "Indeed, 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 foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the families in coming weeks, as well as discussing it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is widely expected to take a similar business-oriented trip to China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to improve diplomatic ties between the UK and the Asian nation.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide new proof that the country is considered a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the United Kingdom was keen 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, confront where we need to, and this has been the consistent policy of the administration in relation to China."