Denmark will make military service mandatory for women for the first time in its history, as part of efforts to strengthen the country's armed forces amid deteriorating security in Europe, the "Independent" reported.
The change will affect all Danish citizens who turn 18 after June 25, who will be included in a gender-neutral lottery system.
The reform, adopted by parliament in June, expands the current practice, in which men are selected by lottery and women can only join voluntarily. From 2024 women already make up about a quarter of conscripts, but their numbers are now expected to increase significantly.
The military service will be extended from four to 11 months — including five months of basic training and six months of operational service with additional training. By 2033, Denmark plans to increase the number of annual conscripts from 4,700 to 6,500.
The move is part of a larger increase in military capabilities. In February, Copenhagen announced the creation of a $7 billion fund to strengthen the army and achieve defense spending above 3% of GDP. Part of the funding comes from the so-called Acceleration Fund.
Colonel Kenneth Ström, head of the conscription program, said the decision was driven by "the current security situation" and stressed that the new forces would contribute to NATO's collective defense.
Neighboring countries such as Norway and Sweden have already introduced compulsory military service for both sexes in 2013 and 2017 respectively, citing growing security risks in Europe.