Popular African American singer Mary Millben has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi emerged with the stronger outcome in the recently concluded India–US trade negotiations, crediting his patience and diplomatic strategy for securing favorable terms.
In an interview following her performance at the Trump Kennedy Center, Millben praised both leaders for reaching an agreement but made clear her view on who benefited more. “I will always tip the hat to the Prime Minister because in my book, he wins in this terrain,” she said, describing Modi as measured and unwavering in ensuring India’s interests were protected.
Rejecting criticism from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that the Prime Minister had compromised national interests, Millben dismissed the charge outright. She argued that Modi’s approach allowed India to negotiate from a position of strength, particularly as the Trump administration recalibrated its global trade posture.
According to Millben, broader geopolitical developments played a crucial role in shaping the outcome. She cited India’s diplomatic engagements with major global powers and pointed to the recent EU-India trade agreement as a turning point. In her view, the European deal signaled India’s growing economic leverage and prompted Washington to move decisively toward finalizing its own arrangement with New Delhi.
She emphasized that while the trade pact marks progress, repairing broader diplomatic ties should remain a priority. “Just because a trade deal is in place does not mean that that erases months of bad diplomacy,” she noted, urging the White House to consider inviting Prime Minister Modi for a formal State visit to reinforce long-term partnership.
Millben also highlighted India’s rising global influence, referencing the recently hosted AI Summit as evidence of the country’s central role in global business and technology discussions. “If you wanna do business in the world, you have to have India involved,” she said, calling India one of the most important markets and strategic partners globally.
On the newly announced “Board of Peace” initiative in Washington, she expressed cautious support but warned that global leadership must be collaborative rather than directive. Effective diplomacy, she argued, requires convening dialogue rather than imposing outcomes.
Ending on a cultural note, Millben shared that she is preparing new music for India’s Independence Day celebrations. Referencing her past renditions of patriotic Indian songs, she hinted at a possible new release in August and expressed gratitude to her supporters across India and the global diaspora.
Millben has built a strong following among Indian and Indian-American audiences in recent years, frequently participating in cultural and diplomatic events that underscore the growing people-to-people ties between the two democracies.
