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Keir Starmer has asserted that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "could not have happened without the leadership of Donald Trump," but avoided endorsing the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

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

The prime minister remarked that the first phase of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the UK had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the US and mediators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his business trip to India, the British leader stressed that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and paired with the prompt removal of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Addressed

But, when questioned if the Nobel committee should now grant Donald Trump the prestigious award, Starmer suggested that more time was needed to determine if a durable peace could be achieved.

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

Business Deals Revealed During India Visit

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements sealed during his tour to the country – his first time there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit signifies the passing of the two nations' trade pact.

• The UK government has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, Starmer signed a military agreement worth £350 million for UK missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

"The shared history is profound, the personal ties between our people are exceptionally strong," he said as he departed Mumbai. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are remaking this partnership for our era."

Digital Identification System Examined

Starmer has spent time in India analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including meeting key figures who developed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for social services, payments, and verification.

The prime minister suggested that the UK was considering expanding the scope of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the UK would eventually look at linking it to financial and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a optional basis [in India] in massive scale, not least because it means that you can access your own money, make payments so much more conveniently than is possible with alternative methods," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it enables residents here to utilize facilities, especially banking options, is something that was recognized in our discussions recently, and in fact a Fintech discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those examples of how digital ID assists individuals with procedures that often take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

Starmer acknowledged that the government had to build public support for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in popularity since Starmer announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I think that the more people see the positive outcomes that accompany this ... as has happened in different nations, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed

Starmer confirmed he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding human rights and relations with Russia, though he appeared to have made little headway. He confirmed that he and Modi discussed how India was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is subject to 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 commented. "This included a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we did set out the steps that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

The Prime Minister also mentioned he had raised the case of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian prison for almost a decade without undergoing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among UK nationals currently detained overseas.

But, he did not indicate much advancement had been achieved. "Indeed, we did raise the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the families in coming weeks, as well as raising it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is widely expected to take a comparable trade-focused trip to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a mission to improve relations between the United Kingdom and China.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the UK has been unwilling to provide new proof that the country is considered a threat.

Starmer said the UK was eager to explore additional commercial partnerships 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 stance is to cooperate where we can, challenge where we must, and that's been the consistent policy of the government in regarding China."