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Keir Starmer has stated that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," yet stopped short of supporting 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 agreement would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the US and negotiators.

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

Peace Prize Question Answered

But, when asked if the Nobel committee should now grant Donald Trump the prestigious prize, Starmer implied that more time was needed to know if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to move forward and execute this ... my focus now is moving this from the stage it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me more than anything else," he told reporters at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Revealed During India Visit

The Prime Minister has hailed a number of deals finalized during his visit to the country – his maiden visit there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit marks the implementation of the countries' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has unveiled a slew of investments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister signed a defence deal worth £350 million for British-made missiles, produced in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"The shared history is profound, the human connections between our citizens are exceptionally strong," Starmer remarked as he left the city. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this partnership for our era."

Digital ID Initiative Studied

Starmer has dedicated time in India studying 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 identification.

He hinted that the United Kingdom was interested in broadening the scope of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the UK would eventually look at linking it to banking and transaction networks – 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, partly because it means that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is possible with alternative methods," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it enables residents here to utilize facilities, particularly banking options, is something that was recognized in our talks recently, and in fact a Fintech conversation that we had as well. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID helps individuals with processes that often take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Reforms

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the administration had to build public support for the initiatives to the British public, which have declined sharply in popularity since he announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and make that case the huge benefits ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the benefits that accompany this ... as has occurred in other countries, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and consequently I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Addressed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding human rights and relations with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. He confirmed that he and Modi talked about how the country was persisting to buy oil from Russia, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on resolving this conflict and the multiple measures will be implemented to that end," he commented. "And that was a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we outlined the actions that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

Starmer additionally said he had raised the case of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, 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 injustice among UK nationals still held overseas.

But, he did not suggest much progress had been achieved. "Indeed, we did raise the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is meeting the families in coming weeks, as well as raising it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a comparable business-oriented trip to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to improve diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the UK has been unwilling to provide new proof that the country is deemed a threat.

Starmer clarified the UK was eager to pursue additional commercial partnerships but stated that a commercial agreement with the nation was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to work together where we are able, challenge where we need to, and this has been the consistent policy of the government in relation to China."