Keir Starmer Applauds Trump's Gaza Truce Agreement – However Stops Short of Nobel Prize Backing

Keir Starmer has declared that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," but stopped short of endorsing the US president for a Nobel peace prize.

Truce Agreement Hailed as a "Relief to the Globe"

Starmer commented that the first phase of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the United Kingdom had played its own role behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Speaking on the last day of his trade visit to India, Starmer stressed that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Addressed

But, when asked if the Nobel committee should at this time award Trump the prestigious prize, the Prime Minister suggested that more time was required to know if a durable peace could be achieved.

"The priority now is to press on and implement this ... my focus now is moving this from the stage it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he stated at a press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Revealed During India Visit

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements finalized during his visit to the country – his maiden visit there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip marks the implementation of the two nations' trade pact.

• No 10 has announced a range of financial commitments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, Starmer signed a defence deal worth £350 million for UK missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian army.

"The shared history is deep, the personal ties between our people are truly special," Starmer said as he departed the city. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this alliance for our times."

Digital Identification System Studied

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in India analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including consulting principal architects who developed the widespread system utilized by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and identification.

He hinted that the United Kingdom was interested in broadening the scope of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the Britain would in time look at connecting it to banking and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as home loan and school applications.

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

"The efficiency with which it allows residents here to access services, especially banking options, is something that was acknowledged in our talks recently, and in fact a financial technology conversation that we had as well. So we're examining those instances of how digital ID helps people with processes that often take too long and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

Starmer admitted that the government had to build public support for the initiatives to the British public, which have plummeted in popularity since he announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I believe that the more people see the positive outcomes that come with this ... as has occurred in other countries, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he stated.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Discussed

Starmer said he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and ties with Russia, though he seemed to have made little headway. Starmer confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how India was persisting to purchase oil from Russia, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on ending this situation and the various steps will be taken to that purpose," he said. "This included a wide range of discussion, but we outlined the actions that we are taking in regarding energy."

Starmer also said he had brought up the situation of the UK-based activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian prison for nearly eight years without undergoing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among Britons currently detained abroad.

However, he did not indicate much advancement had been achieved. "Indeed, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the opportunity to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is scheduled to meet the relatives in the near future, as well as raising it today."

Future Plans

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a similar business-oriented visit to China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to improve diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and China.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that China is considered a security risk.

Starmer clarified the UK was eager to explore additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a trade deal with China was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to work together where we are able, confront where we must, and this has been the consistent policy of the administration in regarding China."