Ken Hansen

Ken Hansen is an independent defence and security analyst and owner of Hansen Maritime Horizons. Retired from the navy in 2009 in the rank of commander, he is a member of the Science Advisory Committee for Atlantic Oceans Research Enterprise and a contributor to the Security Affairs Committee for the Royal United Services Institute.

Canada’s new warships must be built for the future—not for today

The Canadian military faces a crossroads year the likes of which it hasn’t faced since 1959—when the Avro Arrow was scuttled

When Churchill needed Ottawa, the town was ignored. Now, Ottawa needs Churchill

Opinion: If solving the struggles of the Manitoba town’s residents wasn’t enough, the federal government had plenty of other reasons to have stepped in sooner

A landmark ruling on military courts means the Forces must change for the better

Opinion: The military is scrambling after a court decided that its process for trying soldiers with civil crimes violates the Charter—exposing its double standard

Donald Trump is wrong about NATO

Opinion: Despite Trump’s rhetoric, relative defence spending is falling for many NATO member countries, including America—and collective defence is cheaper than other options

Canada’s peacekeeping mission to Mali could become a new Afghanistan

Opinion: There is no peace to keep in Mali, and the UN mission there has become a deadly quagmire—one that Canada might be wise to just avoid

What’s happening to Canada’s defence spending?

Opinion: Despite a policy overhaul, the 2018 budget has set out virtually no new spending for the fundamentals of Canada’s military. That’s a problem.

The problem at the root of the RCMP’s dysfunctional culture

Opinion: The RCMP is a federal military force that takes on ill-fitting municipal missions. To fix its culture, it should get out of contract policing

Why RCMP tactics—not weapons—failed against Justin Bourque

Justin Bourque killed three RCMP constables in Moncton in 2014—and with the national police force now on trial, a key point is being missed

The Liberals’ defence policy: So much, and too little

Chrystia Freeland set out a bold vision for Canada’s foreign policy. But the Liberals’ defence policy seems to offer few ways to meet it.