Starting July 1, Denmark officially began conscripting women into the military, a significant change in defense policy as the nation reacts to increasing security risks from Russia and seeks to satisfy NATO’s expectations.
Before, women were allowed to volunteer for service but were exempted from the compulsory draft lottery. Now, as per the new law enacted in June by the Danish Parliament, women who reach the age of 18 will be brought under conscription procedures, similar to men.
“The defence requires all available fighting strength we can muster,” said Defence Chief Michael W. Hyldgaard. “This demands that we recruit from the entire society.”
The decision, advanced 18 months earlier than planned, is interpreted as a pragmatic measure to bridge manpower gaps and not an ideological drive towards gender parity. Women now account for around 10% of the armed forces in Denmark. The administration wants to raise basic training intake from 4,700 last year to 6,500 by 2027 and intends to increase obligatory service duration from four to 11 months by 2026.
Experts attribute the shift to increasing concerns about regional security, especially Russia’s behavior in Ukraine and the Arctic. Denmark isn’t bordering Russia, yet both sabotage and tensions across the Baltic Sea have increased.
“This isn’t about being afraid of tanks in Copenhagen tomorrow, but rather recognizing that Russia is still an issue,” wrote Mikkel Runge Olesen of the Danish Institute for International Studies.
Denmark’s military readiness has dropped in the last ten years, and a major rebuild was called for. Experts add that encouragement from former US President Donald Trump to increase NATO contributions, as well as his interest in Greenland, could have triggered quicker moves but that the decision, officials say, was unavoidable.
“There’s a real sense of urgency now,” analyst Anders Puck Nielsen said. “This is about rebuilding a credible national defense quickly.”