PAKISTAN, Turkey and Saudi Arabia signed a military agreement on Friday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said.

The deal deepens co-operation between the three regional powers at a time of growing security tensions.

The agreement was signed in the Saudi holy city of Mecca during a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

“The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“It further provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence co-operation among the three states,” the statement said of the agreement, which brings oil-rich Saudi Arabia together with nuclear power Pakistan as well as Turkey, which has Nato’s second-largest army and a rapidly growing military industry.

Earlier, Turkey’s Haberturk television and other media said it is likely to allow joint military exercises and training, technology transfers and the sharing of intelligence.

Saudi Arabia, whose critical infrastructure and oil facilities have come under attack as part of the war in Iran, has been looking to diversify its military partnerships.

In September, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defence pact that defines any attack on either nation as an attack on both.

The agreement also comes amid rising tensions between Turkey and Israel over Gaza and other regional conflicts, including the war in Iran and Lebanon.

Mr Sharif arrived on Thursday for a three-day visit accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.

In addition to discussing ways to help defuse tensions between the United States and Iran, the three leaders are expected to explore expanding trade, economic ties and broader security cooperation, the officials said.