🔗 Share this article

Keir Starmer has declared that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," but stopped short of endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the World"

Starmer commented that the first phase of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had played its own role behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his trade visit to India, the British leader stressed that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and paired with the prompt removal of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Addressed

But, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should now grant Donald Trump the coveted award, the Prime Minister suggested that more time was needed to know if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to press on and execute this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the phase 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.

Trade and Investment Revealed During Trip to India

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

• The UK government has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On the final day, Starmer finalized a defence deal worth £350m for UK missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"The shared history is profound, the human connections between our citizens are exceptionally strong," Starmer remarked as he left the city. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are remaking this alliance for our era."

Digital Identification Initiative Examined

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in Mumbai analyzing the national digital identification program, including meeting key figures who designed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and identification.

The prime minister suggested that the UK was interested in broadening the application 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 payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for official procedures such as home loan and educational enrollments.

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

"The efficiency with which it enables residents here to access services, especially financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our discussions recently, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had today. So we're examining those instances of how digital ID assists people with processes that often take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

The Prime Minister admitted that the government had to make the case for the reforms to the British public, which have plummeted in popularity since he proposed them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the positive outcomes that accompany this ... as has occurred in different nations, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Addressed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and relations with Russia, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. Starmer confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how the country 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 multiple measures will be implemented to that end," he said. "This included a wide range of discussion, 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 British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without undergoing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the worst examples of injustice among UK nationals still held overseas.

However, he did not indicate much progress had been achieved. "Yes, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the families in the near future, as well as discussing it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

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

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the UK has been reluctant to provide fresh evidence that the country is considered a security risk.

The Prime Minister said the United Kingdom was eager to pursue additional commercial partnerships but stated that a trade deal with China was not on the agenda. "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 need to, and that's been the ongoing approach of the government in relation to China."