Danish women will now face mandatory military service as part of a new law requiring all 18-year-olds to register for conscription. This policy change, implemented by Denmark's parliament, reflects the nation's commitment to increasing defense capabilities amid NATO's focus on rising security concerns across Europe.
Previously, women could join the military voluntarily, but under the revised regulations, both young men and women must now register and could be selected through a lottery system if volunteers do not reach the necessary numbers. The duration of conscription has also increased from four months to 11 months for all recruits.
Statistics from 2024 show that approximately 4,700 Danish citizens served in the military, with around 24% being female volunteers. With the new conscription law, officials estimate that service numbers will rise to roughly 6,500 annually by 2033.
This move aligns Denmark with neighboring countries like Sweden and Norway, who recently implemented similar conscription policies for women. In parallel, the Danish government has pledged an increase of 40.5 billion Danish crowns (approximately £4.3 billion or $5.9 billion) in defense spending over the next five years to meet NATO guidelines.
Currently, Denmark has about 9,000 professional military personnel. Colonel Kenneth Strom, overseeing the conscription initiative, emphasized that the decision stems from political discussions aimed at enhancing combat readiness amid evolving international security dynamics.
Katrine, a volunteer in the Danish military, expressed that, "In the world situation we're in right now, it's necessary to have more conscripts, and I think that women should contribute to that equally, as men do. I think it's a positive change."
