Denmark Extends Enlistment Requirement To Women Amid Russian Aggression

With Europe emotion nan threat of Russian aggression, Denmark is bulking up its subject by making women taxable to nan draught for nan first clip successful nan nation’s history. Both men and women whitethorn still volunteer, but nan ranks will beryllium filled retired by a gender-neutral draught lottery.  

Some female troops told The Associated Press that they judge nan caller rules are “fair” and “right” successful putting women connected adjacent crushed pinch men. Under nan caller requirements passed by Denmark’s parliament earlier this month, Danish women who move 18 aft Tuesday, July 1, will participate nan lottery strategy on pinch their antheral counterparts. 

Bulking up subject amid Russian aggression

The move comes arsenic Russia ramps up attacks successful nan 4th twelvemonth of its warfare against Ukraine, and arsenic NATO nations increase defense spending, fearing Moscow could target them next.

Denmark presently appears comparatively safe from threats from Moscow. However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has near a people connected subject training arsenic soldiers study of caller developments connected nan battlefield.

Mandate moved up from 2027

The Scandinavian federation moved up changes to its draught from 2027 to 2025 because of “the existent information situation,” Col. Kenneth Strom, caput of nan Danish conscription program, told nan AP.

“They could simply return portion successful NATO corporate deterrence,” Strom said. “Raising nan number of conscripts, that would simply lead to much combat power.” 

The alteration is expected to summation nan number of Danish citizens performing subject work by almost 40% complete nan adjacent 8 years, to 6,500. The state has different 9,000 master troops.

Under existent law, able-bodied men are required to execute subject work aft they move 18. Both men and women whitethorn volunteer, but unfastened slots are filled done a draught strategy that antecedently drafted only men. Women made up astir 25% of nan country’s enlistees successful 2024. 

Denmark joins different Scandinavian countries that see women successful nan draft. In 2017, Sweden implemented a subject draught for some males and females, citing information concerns successful Europe. Norway has required subject conscription for some men and women since 2013.

Other notable changes

The caller rules besides widen compulsory work from 4 months to 11 months. Draftees will walk their first 5 months successful basal training and nan pursuing six months successful subject operations and further training.

The alteration is portion of a broader effort to heighten Denmark’s subject capabilities. 

Earlier this year, nan Danish authorities announced it would allocate $7 cardinal to summation its defense spending to much than 3% of its gross home merchandise (GDP). The money went into what is known arsenic nan Acceleration Fund, which is partially financing nan enlarged conscription program.

“We spot a sharpened information business successful Europe,” Rikke Haugegaard, a interrogator from nan Royal Danish Defense College, told nan AP. “We person nan ongoing conflict successful Ukraine. We person attraction connected nan Baltic countries, wherever Denmark is contributing a batch of soldiers. So, I deliberation it’s a wide effort to fortify Danish defense.”

Concerns complete requirement

However, Haugegaard pointed retired respective imaginable problems, including instrumentality that is not designed for females and excessively fewer barracks, which has led to concerns complete imaginable intersexual harassment.

“For nan adjacent twelvemonth aliases two, we will beryllium building a batch of caller buildings to accommodate each these people,” Haugegaard said. “So, it will beryllium a gradual process.”