NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte made a pointed remark about Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during an interview on Fox News, stating that Lavrov has been Russia's foreign minister since "the birth of Jesus Christ" and that "nothing useful has come out of his mouth since then." This comment was in response to Lavrov's earlier statement suggesting that increased defense budgets among NATO countries could lead to the organization's collapse. Rutte also highlighted the importance of NATO expansion and increased European defense spending as a response to the Russian threat, framing it as a strategic victory for former U.S. President Donald Trump. The remark sparked reactions from Russian officials, including Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, who defended Lavrov by noting that his long tenure was notable enough to make Rutte recall the time of Jesus Christ. The exchange reflects ongoing tensions between NATO and Russia amid geopolitical disputes.