Denmark introduces mandatory conscription for women amid growing threat from Russia

Denmark is ramping up military spending and begins including women in compulsory military service as of 1 July in a bid to bolster its defence against the growing threat from Russia.

All those turning 18 after 1 July 2025 will be eligible for possible conscription into the Danish Armed Forces. Until now, this has been limited to men, although women were allowed to volunteer.

In Denmark, a lottery system determines who gets drafted: each eligible conscript draws a number from a tombola. If the number is lower than the required number of conscripts not covered by volunteers, it means putting on a uniform.

The country's centrist government, the Greens and most of the conservative opposition agreed on the changes in April last year, today they came into force – coinciding with the day Denmark takes over the rotating EU council presidency.

The new rules should help Denmark address "the current security situation", Colonel Kenneth Strøm, head of the conscription programme, told AP.

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