🔗 Share this article

The Prime Minister has asserted that the truce deal in Gaza "could not have happened without the leadership of Donald Trump," yet stopped short of supporting the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the World"

The prime minister commented that the initial stage of the deal 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 business trip to India, the British leader emphasized that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Answered

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

"The priority now is to move forward and implement this ... my focus now is moving this from the phase it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that is important to me above all," he told reporters at a press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Announced During Trip to India

Starmer has celebrated a series of agreements finalized during his visit to the country – 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 announced a slew of investments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, Starmer finalized a defence deal worth £350 million for UK missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian military.

"Our history together is deep, the personal ties between our citizens are exceptionally strong," Starmer remarked as he departed the city. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are remaking this partnership for our era."

Digital Identification Initiative Examined

Starmer has dedicated time in India analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including consulting key figures who developed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and verification.

He suggested that the UK was interested in expanding the application of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to prove rights 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 administrative tasks such as home loan and school applications.

"It has been adopted on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, partly because it ensures that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is possible with others," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it allows citizens here to utilize facilities, especially banking options, is something that was acknowledged in our talks recently, and in fact a financial technology discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those instances of how digital identification assists people with processes that often take too long and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

The Prime Minister admitted that the administration had to make the case for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in public approval since Starmer proposed them.

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I think that the more people see the benefits that come with 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.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Discussed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding human rights and relations with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. He acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how India was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on ending this situation and the multiple measures will be implemented to that purpose," he said. "This included a broad spectrum of discussion, but we did set out the steps that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister also said he had raised the situation 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 full trial. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among UK nationals currently detained overseas.

However, he did not suggest much progress had been made. "Indeed, we brought up the consular cases," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is meeting the families in the near future, as well as raising it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister 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 mission to improve relations between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a espionage investigation, said to have happened because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that China is considered a security risk.

The Prime Minister clarified the United Kingdom was eager to pursue other trading relationships but stated that a trade deal with the nation 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, challenge where we must, and that's been the ongoing approach of the administration in relation to China."