Finland and Sweden are heading into NATO 'hand-in-hand', Finnish president says

President of Finland Sauli Niinisto, Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson and Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store, meet for a security summit between the three nordic countries at Harpsund Mansion in Flen, Sweden, February 22, 2023. TT News Agency/Claudio Bresciani via REUTERS

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Finland and Sweden are proceeding "hand-in-hand" towards NATO membership but that the decision to ratify the applications for the two Nordic countries lies with Turkey, Finnish president Sauli Niinisto said on Wednesday.

Sweden and Finland applied last year to join the trans-Atlantic defence pact after Russia invaded Ukraine, but Sweden faced unexpected objections from Turkey.