Abstrak
As global geopolitical tensions rise, more states find themselves caught between major power blocs, particularly between Western liberal democracies and authoritarian regimes. Countries like Turkey and Indonesia embody this “in-betweenness,” navigating different governance models, trade partners, and cultural identities. Since the 2000s, both nations have developed distinct patterns of in-between states: Indonesia adopts a pragmatic equidistance approach, while Turkey struggles for recognition in global governance. Domestically, Indonesia has democratized since the fall of the Suharto regime in 1998, despite oligarchic setbacks, while Turkey has shifted from EU integration to presidentialism and Islamization, marked by the 2016 coup attempt. In terms of partnerships, Turkey has distanced itself from NATO allies and abandoned EU aspirations, while Indonesia has skillfully balanced relations, especially in the South China Sea and with China’s infrastructure projects. As a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Indonesia’s foreign policy remains defined by the principle of Bebas Aktif (free and active). Amid growing global competition, understanding how “in between” states like Turkey and Indonesia maneuver through geopolitical dynamics is crucial. This article investigates how in-betweenness characterizes Turkish and Indonesian foreign policy balancing acts and how such behavior shapes relations with the EU and Japan respectively.