A member of the European Union (EU) will recruit both men and women according to a legal amendment that came into force yesterday.
If there are not enough volunteers, those who remain will be drawn by lottery for 11 months of training when they turn 18.
The period of conscription is now much longer
In Denmark, women could previously participate in military training, but on a voluntary basis. As of yesterday, both men and women will have to register after turning 18, after which the competent authorities will assess their suitability for military service.
Volunteers will be recruited first, and the rest will be filled by lottery. According to the changes introduced yesterday, the period of conscription has been extended from the current four months to 11 months.
Last year, more than 4.700 Danes completed short-term military training, 24 percent of whom were female volunteers. Under the new rules, the number of annual conscripts is expected to rise to 6.500 by 2033.
Higher defense spending
Denmark follows the example of neighboring Sweden and Norway, which in recent years have introduced military service for women. Currently, almost 9.000 professional soldiers serve in the Danish army.
The changes were introduced as part of efforts to increase defense spending due to security concerns in Europe. To meet NATO targets in this area, the Danish government announced more than five billion euros in defense spending in March, N1 writes.
