Denmark’s army extends compulsory enlistment to women for the first time
Denmark now conscripting women into army in major shift
- Denmark is set to make military service compulsory for women for the first time, a significant change in the nation's defence policy.
- The new rules, passed in June, will apply to Danish women turning 18, placing them on equal footing with men for a gender-neutral draft lottery.
- This initiative aims to boost the number of young people in the armed forces, with an expected increase to 6,500 annual conscripts by 2033, up from 4,700 last year.
- The policy is driven by the current security situation in Europe, including Russian aggression, and seeks to enhance Denmark's combat power and contribution to Nato.
- The duration of military service will also be extended from four to eleven months, with implementation brought forward to summer 2025.