🔗 Share this article Starmer Praises Trump's Gaza Ceasefire Agreement – However Stops Short of Nobel Prize Endorsement The Prime Minister has declared that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "could not have happened without President Trump's leadership," yet avoided endorsing the US president for a Nobel peace prize. Ceasefire Deal Hailed as a "Relief to the World" The prime minister commented that the initial stage of the agreement 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. Speaking on the final day of his trade visit to India, Starmer stressed that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and accompanied by 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 at this time award Donald Trump the coveted prize, the Prime Minister implied that more time was needed to know if a durable peace could be attained. "What matters now is to move forward and implement this ... my focus now is moving this from the phase it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he stated at a press conference in India's financial capital. Trade and Investment Revealed During India Visit The Prime Minister has hailed a number of deals finalized during his tour to India – his maiden visit there – joined by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The visit signifies the implementation of the two nations' free trade agreement. The UK government has announced a range of financial commitments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom. On the final day, Starmer signed a defence deal worth £350 million for UK missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian army. "Our history together is deep, the human connections between our people are exceptionally strong," Starmer said as he left Mumbai. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are remaking this alliance for our era." Digital ID Initiative Studied Starmer has spent time in India analyzing the national digital identification program, including meeting key figures who designed the widespread system utilized by over a billion individuals for benefits, payments, and identification. The prime minister hinted that the UK was interested in broadening the scope of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the Britain would in time look at connecting it to banking and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and educational enrollments. "It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, partly because it means that you can access your own funds, make payments so much more easily than is available with alternative methods," he explained. "The speed with which it allows citizens here to utilize facilities, especially financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our discussions recently, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had as well. So we're examining those instances of how digital identification helps individuals with procedures that sometimes take excessive time and are overly complex and simplifies them for them." Public Support for Changes Starmer acknowledged that the government had to build public support for the reforms to the British public, which have plummeted in public approval since he announced them. "I think now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I believe that the more people see the benefits that come with this ... as has happened in other countries, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he affirmed. Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding human rights and relations with Russia, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. Starmer acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how India was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is subject to extensive international restrictions. "For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on ending this situation and the multiple measures will be taken to that purpose," he said. "And that was a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we outlined the actions that we are taking in regarding energy." The Prime Minister additionally mentioned he had raised the case of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian prison 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. But, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been achieved. "Yes, we brought up the consular cases," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is scheduled to meet the families in the near future, as well as discussing it now." Upcoming Initiatives Starmer is widely expected to take a similar business-oriented visit to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to ease relations between the UK and China. That relationship is receiving attention because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, said to have happened because the UK has been unwilling to provide new proof that the country is considered a threat. The Prime Minister said the UK was keen to explore other trading relationships but emphasized that a trade deal with China was not on the agenda. "That's not on our list, 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 ongoing approach of the government in relation to China."