Keir Starmer Commends Trump's Gaza Ceasefire Deal – But Declines of Peace Prize Backing

Keir Starmer has asserted that the truce deal in Gaza "could not have happened without President Trump's leadership," but avoided endorsing the US president for a Nobel peace prize.

Ceasefire Deal Hailed as a "Welcome Development to the World"

Starmer commented that the initial stage 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 US and mediators.

Speaking 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 postponement, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Answered

But, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should now award Donald Trump the prestigious prize, Starmer implied that more time was required to know if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to press on 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.

Trade and Investment Announced During Trip to India

Starmer has celebrated a series of agreements sealed during his visit to India – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit signifies the implementation of the two nations' trade pact.

• No 10 has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On the final day, Starmer finalized a defence deal worth £350m for British-made missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"Our history together is profound, the personal ties between our people are truly special," he said as he left the city. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are remaking this alliance for our times."

Digital Identification Initiative Studied

The Prime Minister has spent time in India studying the Indian digital ID system, including consulting key figures who designed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and identification.

The prime minister hinted that the United Kingdom was considering expanding the scope of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the Britain would in time look at linking it to banking and transaction networks – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and school applications.

"It has been adopted 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 easily than is possible with alternative methods," he noted.

"The speed with which it enables residents here to access services, especially financial services, is something that was recognized in our discussions yesterday, and actually a financial technology discussion that we had as well. So we're looking at those examples of how digital identification assists people with procedures that often take excessive time and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Public Support for Reforms

Starmer acknowledged that the government had to build public support for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in popularity since Starmer announced them.

"In my view 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 occurred in other countries, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Discussed

Starmer 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 little headway. He acknowledged that he and Modi discussed how India was persisting to buy oil from Russia, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on resolving this conflict and the multiple measures will be implemented to that purpose," he commented. "This included a wide range of dialogue, but we outlined the actions that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

The Prime Minister also said he had raised the case of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian prison for nearly eight years without facing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among UK nationals currently detained overseas.

However, Starmer did not suggest much progress had been made. "Yes, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is meeting the relatives in coming weeks, as well as raising it now."

Future Plans

The prime minister is widely expected to take a comparable business-oriented trip to China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to ease diplomatic ties between the UK and China.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, said to have happened because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide new proof that the country is deemed a security risk.

Starmer said the United Kingdom was keen to pursue other trading relationships but emphasized that a trade deal with the nation was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our stance is to cooperate where we are able, confront where we must, and that's been the ongoing approach of the government in relation to China."