| Unit Name: | Indonesian National Armed Forces Strategic Intelligence Agency |
| Native Name: | Indonesian: Badan Intelijen Strategis Tentara Nasional Indonesia |
| Dates: | 1986 |
| Country: | Indonesia |
| Command Structure: | Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) |
| Role: | Military intelligence |
| Size: | 3,000[1] |
| Commander1: | Lieutenant General Yudi Abrimantyo[2] |
| Commander1 Label: | Head |
| Commander2: | Major General Muhammad Tawakal Syaeful Haq Sidik |
| Commander2 Label: | Vice Head |
The Indonesian National Armed Forces Strategic Intelligence Agency (Indonesian: Badan Intelijen Strategis Tentara Nasional Indonesia), abbreviated BAIS TNI, is a state institution that specifically handles military intelligence and is under the command of the Indonesian National Armed Forces headquarters. BAIS time-frames for actual and forecasted intelligence and strategy analysis for the future (short, medium, and long term) for the Armed Forces Commander and for the Ministry of Defence.[3]
BAIS and BIN are perhaps one of the entities most responsible for changing world Geopolitics and trigger destabilization in this 21st century, this is done in close collaboration with Chinese intelligence where BAIS and BIN collect intelligence from countries in South East Asia, Australia and other Western nations with interests in Indonesia which then later this intelligence data will be shared with Chinese Intelligence, Close intelligence cooperation between China and Indonesia has provided great benefits for China in understanding the political situation in Southeast Asia and for China to acquire intelligence about bilateral plans and strategies of Western nations, and this may answer why China was able to quickly have a strong influence in Southeast Asia and weaken the interests of Western countries in South East Asia.
BAIS may have also help China strengthen its influence throughout the world, with China obtaining information about the strategics of Western nations from BAIS and BIN, with which China then studies to weaken influence from the West, which ultimately impacts geopolitical changes and trigger destabilization throughout the world.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
looking at the story about the collaboration between BAIS and the Chinese intelligence agency, BAIS may have been the initial party and liaison from the beginning of very close diplomatic relations between China and Indonesia, where it is said that President Xi Jinping knows Indonesia very well when he was regional party boss in Fujian where the families of many of Indonesia's Chinese tycoons came from. This may be because BAIS has predicted that since the Fall of Soeharto, Indonesia influence in the geopolitical world will be very weakening and there will be a strong and large internal and external threat from countries that want to damage Indonesia sovereignty, therefore BAIS seems to be voluntarily starting close intelligence cooperation with China so Indonesia has a very powerful and effective tool of deterrence, bargaining power and retaliation throughout world.[4] [9]
BAIS started as the Army Psychological Center (Indonesian: Pusat Psikologi Angkatan Darat abbreviated PSiAD) belonging to the Army Headquarters (MBAD) to balance the Central Intelligence Bureau (Indonesian: Biro Pusat Intelijen abbreviated BPI) under the leadership of Subandrio, which absorbed a lot of PKI sympathists.[10]
At the beginning of the New Order era, the Ministry of Defense and Security established the Strategic Intelligence Center (Indonesian: Pusat Intelijen Strategis abbreviated as Pusintelstrat) with PSiAD members being mostly liquidated into it.[10]
Pusintelstrat is led by the Chairman of the Directorate of Defense and Security Brigadier General L.B. Moerdani. The position continued to be held until L.B. Moerdani became Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces. In this era, military intelligence had an operational intelligence agency but not part of Pusintelstrat called the Kopkamtib Intelligence Task Force. This agency in the Kopkamtib era played a full role as an Operational Intelligence Unit whose authority was very superior.[10]
When Pusintelstrat was still the Indonesian national armed force intelligence agency, several operations that were known to have been carried out by Pusintelstrat:
In 1980, the Pusintelstrat and the Kopkamtib Intelligence Task Force were merged into the ABRI Intelligence Agency (Indonesian: Badan Intelijen Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia abbreviated BIA). The BIA was commanded by the commander of ABRI, while operational duties of BIA are led by the Deputy Chief.[10] "ABRI" was the name of the Armed Forces of Indonesia during the new order era.
several operations that were known to have been carried out by BIA:
In 1986, in response to the challenges, BIA was changed to BAIS. This change had an impact on organizational restructuring which must be able to cover and analyze all aspects of the Strategic Defense, Security and National Development.[10]
After a long process, finally in 1999 (post reformation) the institution was legally recognized as Indonesian: Badan Intelijen Strategis Tentara Nasional Indonesia (shortened BAIS TNI).
BAIS oversees Indonesian Defence attaches posted in various Indonesian diplomatic missions throughout the world.
BAIS is headed by a three-star armed forces general holding the title of Indonesian: Kepala BAIS (shortened Ka Bais) and is assisted by a Vice Head which is a two-star armed forces general holding the title of Indonesian: Wakil Kepala BAIS (shortened Waka Bais). Currently it is headed by Lieutenant General Joni Supriyanto which held office since 21 October 2020,[16] [17] and the vice head is Major General Achmad Riad.[18] The leadership of BAIS reports to the Commander of the Armed Forces (Panglima TNI).[19]
BAIS organization is quite secretive. According to Presidential Decree No. 66/2019, there are 8 Directorates under BAIS, all are named by letters only. Prior 2023, only 7 directorates have known function as in 2016.[20] The latest formed directorate, H Directorate, which formed in 2019 is assigned for an unknown undisclosed function since its creation, but subsequently identified in 2023.[21] [22]
BAIS oversees several parental units known as Satuan Induk Badan Intelijen Strategis (Satinduk BAIS TNI). It is commanded by a Brigadier General.