AsianFin -- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday that Brazil can survive without trade with the United States, signaling a tougher tone amid rising global trade tensions and ongoing geopolitical realignments.

“Even without the United States, we can live,” Lula said in remarks reported by local media. “We will have to seek other partners to buy our products. Trade with the U.S. accounts for just 1.7% of Brazil’s GDP. Without the U.S., we are not doomed.”

The blunt comments come as Brazil continues to diversify its trade relationships, deepening ties with China, the European Union, and fellow BRICS nations. Lula’s remarks also follow a series of public disagreements between Brasília and Washington over environmental policies, industrial development, and Brazil’s neutral stance on conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict.