Denmark is set to introduce compulsory military service for women for the first time as part of a proposed overhaul of its armed forces.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized that the move is aimed at strengthening defense amid Europe’s tense relations with Russia and the conflict in Ukraine, with the goal of preventing war rather than seeking it.
The government aims to achieve full gender equality by extending military service from four to 11 months and calling up 5,000 conscripts annually, including both men and women, starting in 2026.
Last year, about 4,700 individuals served in the military, with women participating voluntarily and typically for four months.