Hungary's Cooperation with the West Hindered by Criticism

Hungary's foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, has said that the country's right-wing government is reluctant to offer support on practical matters, specifically NATO's buildup against Russia, due to the West's steady criticism of Hungary on democratic and cultural issues. The EU has frozen billions in funds to Budapest and accused populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban of cracking down on media freedom and LGBTQ rights. Szijjártó also said that Hungary has not voted on whether to allow Finland and Sweden to join NATO because Hungarian lawmakers are sick of those countries' critiques of Hungarian domestic affairs.