Following the Men... Danish Women Required for Military Service to Face Russian Threat
July 2, 202551 ViewsRead Time: 1 minutes
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In a first since the country's army was founded, Denmark has expanded the scope of mandatory conscription to include women, as part of its efforts to increase the number of soldiers as a precautionary measure for the Russo-Ukrainian war and NATO's requirements to strengthen defense capabilities.
Denmark, with a population of around 6 million, has approximately 9,000 professional soldiers. The annual number of recruits is expected to rise to 6,500 by 2033, compared to 4,700 last year.
On June 11, the Danish parliament approved new rules requiring Danish women who turn 18 after July 1, 2025, to perform military service under the conscription system, putting them on equal footing with men.
Colonel Kenneth Stroem, head of the recruitment program, told the Associated Press: "This step is based on the current security situation," explaining, "So we are working to increase the number of recruits and enhance combat strength."
The service period has also been extended from four months to 11 months, with recruits spending five months in basic training followed by 6 months of operational service, in addition to extra lessons.
He added: "They can participate in NATO's collective deterrence... Increasing the number of recruits simply enhances combat strength."
