Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times that the US hopes NATO can extend its footprint all over the world, not just remain a transatlantic military organization. Therefore, the US has to keep hyping external threats, unite member states whose interests do not always align and make them spend more on their military budget. Just on Wednesday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said at NATO headquarters in Brussels that NATO countries will agree to a new pledge this summer to increase defense spending above their previous target. "US' objective is to control NATO and Europe and turn NATO into a global military alliance. The words of Stoltenberg can be seen as paving the way for NATO involvement into Asia-Pacific affairs," Song noted.