🔗 Share this article

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

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

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the US and negotiators.

Speaking on the final day of his trade visit to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and paired with the immediate lifting of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Addressed

However, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time award Donald Trump the prestigious award, Starmer implied that time was needed to determine if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"The priority now is to move forward and execute this ... my attention now is transitioning this from the phase it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that is important to me above all," he stated at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Announced During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has celebrated a series of agreements finalized during his visit to India – his first time there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip marks the passing of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has announced a slew of investments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister signed a military agreement worth £350m for UK missiles, produced in the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

"Our history together is profound, the personal ties between our citizens are exceptionally strong," Starmer remarked as he departed Mumbai. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this alliance for our times."

Digital Identification System Studied

Starmer has dedicated time in Mumbai studying the national digital identification program, including consulting principal architects who developed the comprehensive platform used by more than 1 billion people for social services, payments, and verification.

He hinted that the UK was interested in expanding the application of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the Britain would in time look at connecting it to banking and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It's been taken up on a optional basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it means that you can access your own money, conduct transactions so much more easily than is available with others," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it enables residents here to utilize facilities, especially financial services, is something that was recognized in our talks yesterday, and in fact a financial technology discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those examples of how digital ID assists individuals with processes that often take too long and are too cumbersome and simplifies them for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the administration had to make the case for the reforms to the British public, which have declined sharply in public approval since Starmer announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I believe that the greater number of individuals see the positive outcomes that come with this ... as has happened in different nations, citizens say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Addressed

The Prime Minister said he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding human rights and relations with Russia, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. He confirmed that he and Modi talked about how the country was continuing to buy oil from Russia, which is subject to 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. "And that was a wide range of dialogue, but we outlined the actions that we are taking in relation to energy."

The Prime Minister additionally mentioned he had raised the situation of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian jail for almost a decade without undergoing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among UK nationals currently detained overseas.

But, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been made. "Yes, we brought up the consular cases," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is scheduled to meet the families in the near future, as well as discussing it today."

Future Plans

Starmer is widely expected to take a comparable business-oriented visit to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to ease relations between the United Kingdom and China.

This bilateral connection 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 the country is deemed a security risk.

Starmer clarified the UK was eager to pursue additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a trade deal with China was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to cooperate where we are able, confront where we must, and this has been the consistent policy of the government in regarding China."