Denmark has extended mandatory military conscription to include women, effective this Tuesday, July 2. Women can now be called up through a “lottery” system to fulfill a period of conscription, just like men. This move comes as the government aims to boost its military capacity to counter a potential Russian threat and meet U.S. expectations of NATO members.
In June, Parliament approved an amendment to the military conscription law that also extends military service from four to 11 months after reaching the age of 18.
Prioritizing Volunteers, Utilizing a “Lottery” for Others
Volunteers will be prioritized for service, for whom military service was already open. However, if the number of volunteers is insufficient, other women registered during “Defense Day” will be called up through a “lottery.”
“Defense needs all the fighting power we can mobilize, which is why we must recruit from every part of society,” declared Michael W. Hyldgaard, Chief of Danish Defense, in a statement in March, coinciding with the announcement of the new course.
Last year, approximately 4,700 Danish men and women completed short-term military service. The new conscription rules mean that the total number of individuals serving each year is expected to increase to 6,500 by 2033.
Increased Defense Spending Amidst Regional Concerns
Currently, in a nation of 6 million inhabitants, about 16,600 professional soldiers serve in the Danish army and emergency services, 10 percent of whom are women. The government in Copenhagen announced in March a $5.9 billion increase in defense spending over the next five years to meet NATO targets.
Although Denmark does not border Russia, its leaders are concerned about Russia’s presence in the Arctic and the Baltic Sea, where there have been instances of infrastructure sabotage. They fear that following the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow might decide to threaten the rest of Europe.
“I don’t think Danish politicians are afraid of Russian tanks arriving in Copenhagen, but they do think Russia could be a problem,” Mikkel Runge Olesen, a senior research fellow at the Danish Institute for International Studies, told “The New York Times.”
