For the first time in Denmark’s history, women will be drafted into military service, starting July 1, 2025—two years ahead of the original timeline.
The announcement was made by Denmark’s Minister of Defense, Troels Lund, who explained that the move is in response to the “current situation in defense policy and security.”
This change is part of a broader reform, which also includes extending the mandatory military service period from four to eleven months. If the necessary number of volunteers is not reached, both men and women will be selected through an annual lottery.
Although it was previously expected that women would be drafted starting in 2027, Danish authorities decided to accelerate the reform to achieve “full gender equality in the military” by next year.
In addition, Denmark is boosting its defense budget. In February, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced an extra €6.8 billion for military needs in 2025, citing “Russia’s aggressive policy” as the primary threat to the nation’s security.
