NATO's Big Ol' Box of Chocolates: 5% Defense Spending, You Never Know What You're Gonna Get!

Like Peas and Carrots: The U.S. and 5% Defense

Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates you never know what you're gonna get. Well this NATO summit is kinda like that box. Uncle Sam he's pushin' everyone to spend 5% of their GDP on defense. That's like spendin' all your Bubba Gump Shrimp money on well protectin' yourself from those dang Russians I reckon. They want 3.5% for 'pure' defense and 1.5% for cyber stuff. Cyber stuff...sounds like somethin' Lt. Dan would be all over.

Sticking to It Like Glue

Some countries they're like me runnin' on that football field just goin' and goin'. They're happy to spend that 5%. But others? Well they're slower than me tryin' to understand advanced calculus. They ain't even hittin' the 2% mark they agreed on way back when. It's like promisin' Jenny you'll be there and then gettin' distracted by ping pong.

Talkin' the Talk Walkin' the Walk...or Not

This fella Kurt Volker he used to be the U.S. ambassador to NATO says the U.S. wants everyone to mean what they say. It's like when Bubba told me all the ways you can cook shrimp. They want a plan! But Volker says some countries are tryin' to weasel their way out of it. It's like sayin' you'll cut the grass but then just movin' the weeds around.

High Stakes: This Ain't No Ping Pong Game

This meetin' in the Netherlands it's a big deal. There's a war in Ukraine and trouble in the Middle East. Makes you think about all the things worth fightin' for like Jenny or a good plate of shrimp. Some folks say this is the most important NATO meetin' ever. That's like sayin' I'm the best ping pong player...well maybe I am.

Run NATO Run!: Gettin' to 5%

Back when Mr. Trump was in charge he wanted everyone to spend 4%! Now it's 5%. Kinda like movin' the finish line when you're runnin' across the country. A lot more countries are spendin' 2% now but nobody's at 5% yet. Some like those folks in Canada and Spain they're laggin' behind. But you know like Mama said you got to put the past behind you before you can move on.

Show Me the Money...and the Missiles!

These companies that make planes and tanks they're watchin' all this closely. They need to know if NATO is serious. It's like waitin' for someone to order a whole boatload of shrimp. They gotta scale up their production which is a fancy way of sayin' they gotta make more stuff. One fella said they need to align demand whatever that means so they can be competitive. Sounds like a whole lotta somethin'.