Hanso was the Minister of Defence in Taavi Rõivas' cabinet from September 2015 to November 2016.

[1] Hanso graduated from Orissaare Gymnasium and studied special needs education and law in the University of Tartu, the Chinese language in Sichuan University, and transport management in Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College.

From 1998 to 2005, Hanso worked as a freelance correspondent for the Eesti Rahvusringhääling and Radio Free Europe.

He worked as a researcher at the International Centre for Defence and Security from 2011 to 2013 and was the Mayor of Kuressaare from 2013 to 2015.

In 2015, Hannes Hanso was a Member of the 13th Riigikogu and performed the duties of the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.