🔗 Share this article

The Prime Minister has stated that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," but stopped short of endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Ceasefire Deal Hailed as a "Welcome Development to the Globe"

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 behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his trade visit to India, Starmer emphasized that the deal "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Addressed

But, when questioned if the Nobel committee should now award Trump the prestigious award, the Prime Minister implied that time was required to know if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to press on and implement this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the stage it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that matters to me above all," he stated at a press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Announced During India Visit

Starmer has hailed a number of deals finalized during his tour to India – his first time there – accompanied by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The visit marks the passing of the countries' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has announced a range of financial commitments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On the final day, Starmer signed a defence deal worth £350m for UK missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian army.

"The shared history is profound, the personal ties between our people are truly special," he remarked as he left Mumbai. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are remaking this partnership for our era."

Digital Identification System Studied

Starmer has spent time in Mumbai studying the national digital identification program, including meeting principal architects who designed the widespread system used by more than 1 billion people for benefits, payments, and identification.

The prime minister suggested that the UK was interested in broadening the application of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the UK would eventually look at connecting it to banking and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as home loan and school applications.

"It's been taken up on a optional basis [in India] in huge numbers, partly because it means that you can retrieve your own money, make payments so much more easily than is possible with others," he explained.

"The speed with which it allows residents here to utilize facilities, especially banking options, is something that was recognized in our discussions yesterday, and actually a Fintech conversation that we had today. So we're looking at those instances of how digital identification helps people with processes that sometimes take excessive time and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

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

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... 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 proceed with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Addressed

Starmer confirmed he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding human rights and relations with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. Starmer acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how the country was persisting to buy oil from Russia, 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 broad spectrum of discussion, but we outlined the steps that we are taking in relation to energy."

The Prime Minister also said he had raised the case of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Scotland, 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 worst examples of injustice among UK nationals currently detained abroad.

But, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been achieved. "Yes, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he said. "We always raise them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is meeting the families in the near future, as well as discussing it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a similar business-oriented trip to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to ease relations between the UK and the Asian nation.

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

Starmer clarified the United Kingdom was keen to pursue other trading relationships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with the nation was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal as such, but our stance is to cooperate where we can, confront where we need to, and this has been the consistent policy of the government in relation to China."