The Danish government unveiled plans to implement mandatory conscription of women into the military. In the context of a shortage of male personnel, this initiative, the third in Europe, aims to enhance the nation’s defense strategy.
On March 13, the government decided to expand conscription to include women, aiming to bolster the number of young individuals engaging in basic military training from 4,700 in 2023, of which 25% were women, to 5,000 in the context of a shortage of male personnel.
At a press conference, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen emphasized “More robust conscription, including full gender equality, must contribute to solving defense challenges, national mobilization and manning our armed forces.”
Additionally, the duration of military service will be extended from 4 months to 11 months. This revised system requires changes in law and will take effect in 2026.
The country has been facing a number of challenges in its defense strategy, including a depleted stock of arms and equipment and a high resignation rate in the army.
The Danish armed forces face record numbers of resignation
All men deemed physically fit and aged 18 or above are mandated to serve in the military in Denmark, consisting of 7,000−9,000 professional troops.
In 2010, Denmark discontinued compulsory military service for men due to a sufficient number of volunteers. Prior to this, in the 1990s, the country had already significantly reduced its level of militarization following the end of the Cold War.
However, in the new defense plan, Denmark aims to boost its defense spending by 40.5 billion Danish crowns (5.9 billion dollars) over the next five years to address “major shortcomings,” according to Reuters. The Prime Minister emphasized that defense expenditures would reach 2.4 percent of the gross domestic product this year and in 2025, surpassing NATO’s target for member states.
This recent decision has not been immune to criticism, with Jesper K. Hansen, Chairman of the military union Central Association of Permanent Defense Personnel, expressing skepticism.
According to the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, he labeled the move as “not realistic at all,” citing concerns over the readiness of the army to accommodate an additional 300 conscripts for an 11-month training period. Hansen pointed to deficiencies in personnel availability for training, as well as inadequacies in equipment and facilities.
Why introduce female conscription?
The adoption of this new measure will position Denmark as the third country in Europe to mandate female conscription, following Norway’s lead in 2015 and Sweden’s in 2017.
However, the decision to implement female conscription in Denmark goes beyond promoting gender equality. Indeed, the primary driving force behind this decision is the shortage of male personnel.
Years of defense spending cuts, below NATO’s 2% GDP requirement, led to a decline in the purchase of equipment and a record increase in resignations. In 2022 alone, some 2,000 individuals left the military, the highest number recorded since 2010.
It is also a response to escalating tensions fueled by the uncertain geopolitical climate surrounding the war in Ukraine. “We are not rearming because we want war, destruction or suffering. We are rearming to avoid war in a world where the international order is being challenged,” said the Danish Prime Minister.
Mr. Poulsend echoed this stance, stating that the security situation in Europe “has become more and more serious, and we have to take that into account when we look at future defense.” He added that a “broader basis for recruiting that includes all genders is needed” to create a “more versatile and more complete defense.”
Denmark has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters, providing the country with advanced weapons and donations. According to Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Danish support for Ukraine amounts to approximately 4.5 billion euros (4.9 billion dollars) in military support and 411 million euros in civilian contributions.
A worrisome Russian neighbor
In light of these concerns, Finland and Sweden’s recent decision to align with NATO has drawn criticism from Vladimir Putin.
But Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called for increased defense spending and coordination on European defense to the European Parliament, declaring that “Russia is not invincible.” With the country sharing an 830-mile border with Russia, it was pushed to end decades of neutrality following the invasion of Ukraine.
Despite 75 years of peaceful nonalignment toward NATO, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson urged his citizens to defend themselves “with weapons in hand and our lives on the line.”
However, although militarization has been ramped up for many countries in the region in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, the obligatory conscription of women remains a rare move, with Sweden and Norway being the only two other countries in Europe to have such a measure.
