Denmark continues to accelerate the strengthening of its defense capabilities: shortly after the increased the defense budget to three percent of GDP the accelerated implementation of compulsory military service for women has now also been decided.
Women who reach the age of 18 after July 1, 2025 are now to be called up to take part in the “Armed Forces Day” (Forsvarets Dag) as early as 2026 – and it will be compulsory.
The liberal-conservative Liberal Alliance party has now joined the existing Defense Policy Agreement 2024-2033, which regulates equality in compulsory military service. At the same time, it was decided to bring forward the law on the introduction of full equality from the originally planned start date of 2027 to July 1, 2025.
On “Armed Forces Day”, women – like men – will in future have to draw lots to decide whether they will be called up for military service. If there are not enough volunteers, women can also be called up for service. In August 2026, the first training year will begin under the new model with an extended military service period of eleven months.
“I am pleased that Liberal Alliance is now supporting the project. In view of the security situation, the Danish military must recruit more broadly. The early equalization is an important signal for this,” explained Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
The Ministry of Defense has drawn up a new, combined legislative proposal. In addition to equality, it also includes the introduction of conscripts into officer and non-commissioned officer positions.
The original plan was to introduce two legislative initiatives on compulsory military service: one for partial equality from July 2025, the second for full equality from 2027. Following the Liberal Alliance’s rethink, this interim solution has now been dropped. The two projects will be merged and the final draft bill will go to a shortened public consultation from March 26 to April 2, 2025.
“The armed forces need every available soldier. This means that we need to involve all sections of society. The introduction of compulsory military service for women improves our chances of recruiting the most motivated and capable young people – regardless of gender. Diversity strengthens our operational capability,” emphasizes Acting Chief of Staff Michael W. Hyldgaard.
