Women turning 18 will be included in the military conscription lottery system in Denmark for the first time. This decision, made by the Danish parliament in June, is a direct response to the ongoing aggression of Russia in Ukraine and the overall increase in defense spending by NATO member countries. This was reported by Glavkom citing the Daily Express.
Colonel Kenneth Strøm, head of the conscription program, stated that this decision is based on
the current security situation. According to him, involving women in military service will contribute to
NATO's collective deterrenceand
increase the combat powerof the Danish army.
Increase in the number of conscripts and defense spending
Currently, Denmark has about 9,000 professional soldiers for a population of 9 million. The new rules imply a significant increase in the number of conscripts: by 2033, the annual military service figure will be 6,500 people, compared to 4,700 in 2024.
According to Danish legislation, all physically fit men aged 18 are required to serve in the military. Some volunteer, while the rest of the places are allocated through a lottery system, which until now has only involved men. In 2024, women made up only about a quarter of the total number of volunteers.
In Denmark, women are included in the military conscription lottery system for the first time, according to the new parliamentary decision. This step is a response to the increase in defense spending and Russian aggression in Ukraine, aimed at enhancing the army's combat capability and ensuring collective deterrence within NATO.