Keir Starmer Commends Trump's Gaza Truce Agreement – But Stops Short of Peace Prize Backing

The Prime Minister has stated that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," but stopped short of supporting the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Hailed as a "Welcome Development to the World"

The prime minister remarked that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the UK had contributed significantly in private discussions with the US and mediators.

Speaking on the last day of his business trip to India, the British leader stressed that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Answered

However, when questioned if the Nobel committee should now award Donald Trump the coveted award, Starmer implied that more time was required to determine if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to move forward and execute this ... my attention 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 hailed a series of agreements sealed during his tour to India – his first time there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The visit marks the implementation of the countries' trade pact.

• No 10 has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister signed a military agreement worth £350 million for British-made missiles, produced in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"The shared history is deep, the human connections between our citizens are truly special," Starmer remarked as he departed the city. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this partnership for our era."

Digital Identification System Studied

Starmer has dedicated time in India analyzing the national digital identification program, including consulting key figures who developed the widespread system utilized by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and identification.

He suggested that the UK was interested in expanding the application of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the UK would eventually look at connecting it to financial and transaction networks – on a voluntary 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, not least because it means that you can access your own funds, make payments so much more easily than is available with alternative methods," he explained.

"The speed with which it allows citizens here to access services, especially banking options, is something that was acknowledged in our talks recently, and in fact a Fintech discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those examples of how digital identification assists individuals with processes that often take too long and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Reforms

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the administration had to build public support for the reforms to the British public, which have declined sharply in public approval since Starmer 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 benefits that come with this ... as has happened in other countries, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to get on with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and International Relations Addressed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding human rights and relations with Russia, though he seemed to have made little headway. Starmer confirmed that he and Modi discussed how India was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on resolving this situation and the multiple measures will be taken to that end," he said. "And that was a wide range of discussion, but we outlined the actions that we are taking in relation to energy."

The Prime Minister additionally said he had raised the case of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian jail for almost a decade without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among UK nationals currently detained abroad.

But, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been achieved. "Yes, we did raise the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is meeting the families in the near future, as well as discussing it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a similar trade-focused trip to China in the coming year as part of a effort to improve diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide new proof that China is deemed a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the United Kingdom was keen to pursue additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a trade deal with China was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our stance is to work together where we can, confront where we need to, and that's been the ongoing approach of the government in relation to China."