Keir Starmer Praises Trump's Gaza Ceasefire Deal – However Stops Short of Peace Prize Backing

The Prime Minister has declared that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," but avoided endorsing the US president for a Nobel peace prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the World"

Starmer commented that the first phase of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly in private discussions with the US and mediators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his business trip to India, Starmer emphasized that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Addressed

However, when questioned if the Nobel prize committee should at this time grant Trump the coveted 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 execute this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the phase it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he stated at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Revealed During Trip to India

Starmer has hailed a number of deals sealed during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit marks the passing of the countries' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister signed a defence deal worth £350 million for British-made missiles, produced in the UK region, to be used by the Indian military.

"The shared history is profound, the personal ties between our people are exceptionally strong," Starmer remarked as he departed Mumbai. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this alliance for our era."

Digital ID System Examined

Starmer has spent time in Mumbai analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including meeting key figures who developed the comprehensive platform utilized by more than 1 billion people for social services, transactions, and identification.

The prime minister hinted that the UK was considering broadening the scope of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the UK would eventually look at linking it to banking and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and school applications.

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

"The efficiency with which it allows citizens here to access services, particularly financial services, is something that was recognized in our talks recently, and in fact a financial technology discussion that we had as well. So we're examining those instances of how digital identification helps people with procedures that often take excessive time and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the administration had to make the case for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in public approval since Starmer proposed 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 positive outcomes that accompany this ... as has happened in other countries, citizens say: 'That will make my life easier,' and consequently I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and International Relations Addressed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and ties with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. He acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how the country was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on ending this conflict and the multiple measures will be taken to that end," he said. "This included a wide range of dialogue, but we did set out the actions that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister additionally said he had brought up the case of the UK-based activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian jail 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 currently detained overseas.

But, Starmer did not suggest much progress had been made. "Yes, we did raise the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is meeting the relatives in the near future, as well as raising it today."

Future Plans

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a similar trade-focused visit to China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to ease relations between the United Kingdom and China.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that China is considered a security risk.

The Prime Minister said the UK was eager to explore additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with the nation was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our stance is to work together where we can, confront where we need to, and this has been the consistent policy of the government in relation to China."