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Keir Starmer has stated that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," yet stopped short of endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Ceasefire Deal Welcomed as a "Relief to the World"

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the UK had played its own role behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Speaking on the final day of his trade visit to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the immediate lifting of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Answered

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

"What matters 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 matters to me above all," he stated at a press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Revealed During Trip to India

Starmer has hailed a series of agreements sealed during his visit to India – his first time there – joined by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The trip signifies the passing of the two nations' trade pact.

• The UK government has unveiled a slew of investments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister signed a military agreement worth £350m for British-made missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"Our history together is profound, the human connections between our citizens are truly special," Starmer said as he left the city. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this alliance for our times."

Digital Identification System Examined

The Prime Minister has spent time in Mumbai analyzing the national digital identification program, including meeting principal architects who designed the widespread system utilized by over a billion individuals for benefits, payments, and identification.

He suggested that the United Kingdom was considering expanding the application of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the Britain would eventually look at connecting it to financial and transaction networks – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a optional basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it means that you can retrieve your own funds, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is available with alternative methods," he noted.

"The speed with which it enables residents here to utilize facilities, particularly banking options, is something that was recognized in our discussions yesterday, and in fact a financial technology conversation that we had as well. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID assists people with processes that often take too long and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

Starmer acknowledged that the government had to make the case for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in public approval since Starmer announced them.

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the benefits that come with this ... as has happened in other countries, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Addressed

Starmer confirmed he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and ties with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. Starmer confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how the country was continuing to buy Russian oil, 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 purpose," he said. "This included a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we did set out the steps that we are taking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister additionally mentioned he had brought up the case of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without facing a full trial. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among UK nationals currently detained overseas.

However, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been made. "Yes, we brought up the consular cases," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is meeting the families in the near future, as well as raising it now."

Future Plans

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

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, said to have happened because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide new proof that the country is deemed a threat.

Starmer said the UK was eager to pursue other trading relationships but stated that a trade deal with China was not on the agenda. "That's not on our list, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to cooperate where we can, confront where we must, and that's been the ongoing approach of the administration in regarding China."