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Denmark Introduces Mandatory Military Service for Women as Russian Threat Grows in Europe
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Starting July 1, Denmark will require women aged 18 and older to undergo compulsory military service on equal terms with men — a historic move prompted by mounting security concerns across Europe and Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
According to Daily Express on July 1, until now, military service for women had been voluntary, with only about 25% of volunteers in 2024 being female. Under the new rules, women will be subject to the same selection process and service requirements as men.
Colonel Kenneth Strøm, head of Denmark’s conscription program, cited the worsening security situation in the region as the driving force behind the changes.
“They could take part in NATO collective deterrence,” he added. “Raising the number of conscripts, that would simply lead to more combat power.”
Denmark plans to increase its annual intake of conscripts from 4,700 to 6,500 by 2033. For context, the country’s standing professional military consists of just 9,000 personnel — in a population of around 6 million.
Defense spending is also set to rise sharply. By 2025, the Danish government aims to allocate 3% of its GDP to military needs.
“We see a sharpened security situation in Europe. We have the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. We have focus on the Baltic countries, where Denmark is contributing a lot of soldiers. So, I think it’s a general effort to strengthen the Danish defense,” said researcher Rikke Haugegaard from the Royal Danish Defense College.
Earlier, it was reported that a new statistic underscores the increasing involvement of women in Ukraine’s defense. According to Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna, more than 10,000 Ukrainian women are now serving in combat roles on the front lines.
