A pivotal moment in Denmark’s military history has been marked, one that does not only signal a proactive stance towards enhancing defense capabilities but also carries broader implications for Europe as a whole.
The end of the Cold War saw many European nations, including Denmark, scaling back their military capacities, buoyed by the promise of a more peaceful and cooperative international order.
However, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has shattered this illusion of enduring peace, prompting a sobering reassessment of security priorities across the continent.
In response to Europe’s changing security climate, Denmark has planned to conscript women into armed forces for first time.
Currently, all physically fit men over the age of 18 are called up for military service, which is decided according to a lottery system.
Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen said that the revised policy was designed to increase the number of young people doing military service.
Conscripts will also be expected to serve more time in the military – 11 months, compared with four months at the moment.
Denmark’s decision to expand conscription to include women, alongside men, reflects a proactive response to the evolving security landscape in Europe.
Neighbouring Sweden introduced a military draft for men and women in 2017 amid concerns about the security environment in Europe and around Sweden.
Norway introduced a law applying military conscription to both sexes in 2013.
In light of Russia’s brazen invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent resurgence of geopolitical tensions, Frederiksen’s rationale for the policy revision resonates with a sobering truth: the imperative to bolster military capabilities as a deterrent against aggression and safeguard regional stability.
“We are not rearming because we want war, destruction, or suffering. We are rearming right now to avoid war and in a world where the international order is being challenged,” Frederiksen told reporters, indirectly referring to Russia’s military moves in recent years and months.
Frederiksen’s assertion that Denmark’s rearmament is not motivated by a desire for conflict but rather by a commitment to prevent it underscores the nuanced and pragmatic approach that the Danish government is adopting in response to the current security climate.
By expanding conscription to encompass both genders, Denmark aims to bolster its military capabilities while ensuring that the burden of national defense is shared equitably among its citizens.
Denmark, a founding member of the NATO alliance, also plans to boost its defence budget by 40.5 billion Danish crowns ($5.9bn) over the next five years.
Frederiksen disclosed that defence spending would amount to 2.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) this year and in 2025, above NATO’s target for member states.
Moreover, Denmark’s proactive stance on rearmament sends a powerful message of resolve and solidarity to its European allies and partners. In an era characterized by uncertainty and geopolitical upheaval, collective defense and unity are paramount.
By bolstering its military capabilities, Denmark reaffirms its commitment to the collective security of the European Union and NATO, thereby contributing to the broader efforts to uphold peace and stability on the continent.
More Versatile And Complete Defence Needed
Danish Defence Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen stated that the situation in Europe “has become more and more serious, and we have to take that into account when we look at future defence.”
“A broader basis for recruiting that includes all genders is needed,” he said, adding that it will create “a more versatile and more complete defence”.
Denmark currently has as many as 9,000 professional soldiers in addition to 4,700 conscripts undergoing basic training, according to official figures.
The government wants to increase the number of conscripts by 300 to reach a total of 5,000. Under the revised draft, conscripts will first spend five months in basic training, followed by six months in operational service along with supplementary training.
The new system will require a change in the law, which Poulsen said would happen in 2025 and take effect in 2026.
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