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The Prime Minister has declared that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," yet stopped short of endorsing the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

Ceasefire Deal Welcomed as a "Welcome Development to the World"

Starmer remarked that the first phase of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the United Kingdom had played its own role behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Speaking on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer emphasized that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Answered

However, when asked if the Nobel committee should now award Trump the coveted prize, Starmer implied that more time was needed to know if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

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

Business Deals Announced During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has celebrated a series of agreements finalized during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – joined by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The trip marks the passing of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has announced a range of financial commitments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister finalized a defence deal worth £350 million for UK missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"Our history together is deep, the personal ties between our people are truly special," he said as he left Mumbai. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are remaking this alliance for our era."

Digital Identification Initiative Examined

Starmer has dedicated time in India studying the national digital identification program, including consulting principal architects who designed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and identification.

He suggested that the UK was considering expanding the scope of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the UK would in time look at linking it to banking and transaction networks – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it means that you can access your own funds, make payments so much more easily than is possible with others," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it allows citizens here to utilize facilities, particularly financial services, is something that was recognized in our discussions yesterday, and in fact a financial technology discussion that we had as well. So we're examining those instances of how digital ID helps people with processes that sometimes take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

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

"I think now we need to go out and make that case the huge benefits ... And I believe that the more people see the benefits that accompany this ... as has happened in different nations, citizens say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and International Relations Addressed

Starmer said he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and ties with Russia, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. He confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how India was continuing to buy Russian oil, which is subject to widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on ending this conflict and the multiple measures will be implemented to that purpose," he said. "And that was a wide range of discussion, but we outlined the steps that we are taking in relation to energy."

Starmer additionally mentioned he had raised the situation of the UK-based activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian prison for almost a decade without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among UK nationals still held overseas.

However, Starmer did not suggest much advancement had been made. "Indeed, we did raise the consular cases," 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 coming weeks, as well as raising it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a comparable trade-focused visit to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to ease diplomatic ties between the UK and China.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the collapse of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the UK has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that the country is considered a threat.

The Prime Minister said the United Kingdom was keen to pursue additional commercial partnerships but emphasized 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 cooperate where we are able, challenge where we must, and this has been the consistent policy of the government in regarding China."