NATO Membership Delays and Russia's Threat Perception in Finland and Sweden

Hungary's delay in ratifying Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership bids is causing frustration and worry in the Nordic countries and beyond. Analysts suggest that Hungary's intransigence on NATO expansion is driven by its desire to exert leverage on the EU, which has frozen billions in funds to Budapest over corruption and rule-of-law concerns. Hungary's parliament has postponed a ratification vote twice in two weeks, and has not given a firm date on when the vote might take place.