AS the rivalry between the United States and China intensifies, Malaysia finds itself navigating an increasingly delicate act.
Sandwiched between these two geopolitical giants, Putrajaya's hedging policy is focused on maintaining autonomy and preventing alignment with either power.
Malaysia is increasingly feeling the squeeze from the evolving Sino-US rivalry.
China's encroachments on the South China Sea, particularly in waters claimed by Malaysia, present a direct threat to its sovereignty.
These territorial disputes complicate Malaysia's relationship with its largest trading partner and critical investor.
While China is crucial to Malaysia's economic development, its aggressive actions in the maritime domain undermine Putrajaya's ability to rely solely on diplomacy to protect national interests.
At the same time, the US poses its own set of challenges for Malaysia.
While Washington offers security assurances, particularly in the South China Sea, Malaysia remains wary of appearing too closely aligned with the US.
This caution is heightened by domestic political sensitivities, especially as US support for Israel in Gaza has sparked widespread public discontent in Muslim-majority Malaysia.
In this context, Turkiye has emerged as a stabilising force, helping Malaysia ease the pressures of great power competition by diversifying partnerships and reducing reliance on any single power.
For Malaysia, Turkiye represents a third option, providing an additional buffer against the growing pressures from the US and China.
One cornerstone of Malaysia-Turkiye relations is their growing defence cooperation. Malaysia has sought to reduce its reliance on traditional Western defence suppliers by expanding its procurement and technological partnerships with Turkiye.
Turkiye's burgeoning defence industry, particularly in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and armoured vehicles, has offered Malaysia valuable alternatives for enhancing military capabilities.
Notably, Malaysia's acquisition of the Turkish UAV, Anka-S, has strengthened its maritime surveillance operations, a critical element in its response to China's increasing presence in the South China Sea.
For Turkiye, the relationship with Malaysia provides an entry point into the broader Asean market and a strategic foothold in Southeast Asia.
For Malaysia, diversifying defence partnerships enhances its hedging strategy by side stepping over-dependence on any single supplier, be it the US, China, or Western European nations.
Beyond defence, cultural ties between Malaysia and Turkiye have deepened in recent years.
The rise of Ottoman romanticism, particularly driven by the popularity of Turkish historical dramas such as Diriliş: Ertugrul, has resonated deeply with Malaysia's Muslim population.
These shows, which highlight the values of justice, loyalty, and Islamic leadership, have fostered a sense of kinship between Malaysians and Turks, strengthening Turkiye's soft power in the region.
Turkiye's soft power has grown as Malaysia's Muslimpopulation reassesses its consumption of Western media, amid rising anti-Western sentiment, fuelled by Gaza and broader Middle Eastern tensions.
Unlike its relationship with the US, Malaysia's shared Islamic identity with Türkiye offers a more publicly palatable partnership.
On the political front, the relationship between Malaysia and Turkiye has been underpinned by the good rapport between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Both leaders share ideological commonalities, particularly in their emphasis on Islamic governance, social justice, and foreign policies that challenge Western dominance.
While Turkiye offers a valuable stabilising influence on Malaysia's foreign policy, it is not a comprehensive solution to the challenges posed by the Sino-US rivalry.
Turkiye's geopolitical agility allows Malaysia to diversify partnerships, but it cannot substitute for the economic power of China or the security guarantees provided by the US.
Rather, Turkiye represents an additional lever in Malaysia's hedging strategy — allowing Putrajaya to spread risks, diversify defence relationships, and maintain a flexible approach to diplomatic engagements.
In essence, Turkiye's role in Malaysia's foreign policy reflects a broader trend of diversification.
Malaysia recognises the risks of over-reliance on either China or the US, particularly as the rivalry between these two powers intensifies in the Indo-Pacific.
By cultivating relations with Turkiye, Malaysia enhances its strategic autonomy and strengthens its ability to navigate the increasingly competitive regional environment.
While Turkiye is not a panacea for Malaysia's geopolitical challenges, it provides an important stabiliser in the complex web of Malaysia's foreign policy calculations.
The writer is an administrative and diplomatic officer with the government.
He is a Khazanah-OXCIS scholar who completed his MSt in diplomatic studies at Kellogg College, University of Oxford