Denmark Announces Conscription Modifications, Plans to Commence Drafting of Women
The Danish defence ministry announced plans to recruit female soldiers as part of an effort to increase the size of the Danish armed forces.
The country revealed on Wednesday that it would be changing its conscription policy to allow women to be conscripted, extending the duration of duty from four to eleven months, and increasing the number of conscripts from 300 to five thousand.
The Danish military is reportedly forced to reevaluate its conscription policy due to the "historic strengthening" of the Danish Armed Forces and the subsequent necessity to staff operational units with more soldiers.
"Unfortunately, the security policy situation in Europe has become more and more serious, and we have to take that into account when we look at future defense," Defense Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, said in a statement.
"A more robust conscription, including full gender equality, must contribute to the Armed Forces' task resolution, national mobilisation and to manning our Armed Forces."
Conscription will apply to all young people, regardless of sex, and they will all be required to serve the same amount of time and be ready to fight for their nation if called upon.
"It is absolutely crucial that we get a more robust conscription in Denmark when we have to build up the Danish defence," said Poulsen.
"Therefore, a broader basis for recruiting that includes all genders is needed. This will give access to more competences and better task solving. Quite simply, a more versatile and more complete defense."
All conscripts will be required to complete five months of basic training and then six months of active service, according to the updated conscription plan.
The government announced that individuals who successfully finish their military duty will be granted a higher level of education.
"I see a new and strengthened conscription as a necessary foundation for solving military tasks, where professional skills, preparedness and robustness are decisive for the armed forces' combat power," Chief of Defense Flemming Lentfer said.
The declaration is made at a time when hostilities in Europe are still ongoing. Joining the protective NATO alliance, Denmark has been a friend of Kyiv and has supplied it with fighter jets manufactured in the United States. For the past two years, Ukraine has fought off an invasion by Russia.
In the Danish Army, excluding conscripts, there are around seven thousand to nine thousand professional personnel, according to official statistics.
The news makes Denmark the third European country to declare the conscription of women, after Sweden and Norway.