Amidst the current turbulence of the international system, strategists and international relations theorists face the profound challenge of unpredictability in analyzing socio-political phenomena. Consequently, explaining phenomena within chaotic conditions has emerged as a fundamental problem in the study of international complexity. As a macro-analytical paradigm, complexity encompasses diverse research trajectories, most notably Chaos Theory. Given the intricate variables of the contemporary global landscape, the absence of deterministic order in political systems necessitates that policymakers prepare for managing chaotic contingencies. This study addresses a pivotal question: which theoretical framework possesses the requisite explanatory power to address the chaotic dynamics of the complex international system? Premised on the notion that high levels of unpredictability are inherent to human agency, this research hypothesizes that Chaos Theory serves as a robust analytical instrument for explaining phenomena within the chaotic states of the complex system. Furthermore, amid rising systemic complexity and the prevalence of strategic ambiguity in foreign policy, ‘strategic chaos’ has emerged as a deliberate means of goal attainment. By establishing a clear distinction between these two concepts, this research argues that while Chaos Theory provides a systemic explanation of chaos, strategic chaos is an instrumental tool employed to induce ambiguity in competitors to achieve specific strategic objectives.