Yo Adrian! NATO Needs a Knockout Punch, Not Just Jabs, on Defense Spending!

Eye of the Tiger...or Just a Kitten?

Yo Adrian it's Rocky! Listen I been hearin' some jabber about NATO see? The U.S. wants everyone to pump up their defense spendin' to 5% of their GDP. Five percent! That's like tellin' Apollo Creed he needs to train twice as hard! But some of these countries they're barely hittin' the 2% mark. It's like sendin' Mickey Goldmill to fight Ivan Drago – ain't gonna happen without some serious trainin' capiche?

Talk is Cheap Punches are Free

Now everyone's sayin' they're on board but talk is cheap right? I learned that sellin' turtles Butkus and Link at the pet shop. These politicians they make promises like I make excuses after a round with Clubber Lang. 'Oh we'll get there eventually...' Yeah and I'll learn to fly before that happens. The U.S. especially with Trump back in the mix wants to see action not just a bunch of hot air. It's about showin' some heart some grit you know? Like when I told Adrian "It ain't about how hard you can hit but how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward."

Spain's Got the Eye of the Gazelle Not the Tiger

So they had this big meetin' right? And everyone kinda agreed to spend more. But then Spain they're like 'Hold on Rocky! We ain't gonna hit 5%. We'll just do 2.1% to cover the basics.' 2.1%! That's like training with one arm tied behind your back! They're sayin' they respect other countries wanting to spend more but they ain't joinin' the party. It's like showin' up to a weightliftin' competition with a pair of dumbbells. You ain't gonna win no gold with that.

Rocky's Rules to Rumble

This Kurt Volker guy former U.S. ambassador to NATO he's got it right. He's sayin' the U.S. wants to hear 'Yeah we're serious! 5% is the real deal!' But some of these European countries they're already tryin' to wiggle out of it. Like they're sayin' 'Oh it's 5% but really it's 3.5% for defense and 1.5% for... well stuff.' It's like sayin' you're gonna eat a whole pizza but then only eatin' half and fillin' the rest with salad. If they keep messin' around there's gonna be a major clash with the U.S. and nobody wants that.

High Stakes Low Blows?

With the conflict in Ukraine and all the other mess goin' on in the world the stakes are high higher than when I fought Apollo Creed. Some experts are even sayin' this NATO meetin' is the biggest in 77 years. The U.S. is pushin' hard but will these countries step up? Pete Hegseth the U.S. Defense Secretary he's sayin' 5% 'will happen'. But I tell ya it's gonna take more than just words. It's gonna take guts. Like when I told my son 'Going in one more round when you don't think you can that's what makes all the difference in your life.'

Yo Time to Step Up

The big bosses at Leonardo Embraer and Saab they're all sayin' Europe needs to get its act together. They need to make long term commitments so these companies can build the stuff they need to defend themselves. It ain't just about the money it's about havin' a plan havin' the gear and havin' the guts to use it. Europe need to start acting like they believe in what they are saying. Otherwise they'll be saying "I WANT YOU" on recruitment posters when it's too late. So NATO it's time to stop jabbin' and start throwin' some knockout punches. The world's countin' on ya!