Women in Denmark are now also required to serve in the army

According to a new law in Denmark, women in this country are now required to join the army alongside men. According to information distributed by the Associated Press, these changes came into effect on July 1, reported apnews.com.

Now every woman who turns 18 must complete military service, just like men. Previously, this right was only voluntary, but now it has become a mandatory requirement. The country's defense minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, noted that the government initially planned to implement this measure from 2027, but due to the threat from Russia, it was decided to speed up the reform.

The general duration of military service in Denmark has also been significantly increased — now women and men will serve in the army for 11 months. This is almost three times more than the previous 4-month term. These changes were implemented in order to strengthen NATO’s strategy and security. According to the head of the conscription program, Colonel Kenneth Strom, the new rule will attract more qualified young people to the army, air force, and navy.

According to Danish law, all citizens who reach the age of 18 must undergo an assessment for fitness for military service. First, volunteers are selected, and the remaining positions are distributed by lottery. It is expected that within the next 8 years, the annual call-up will reach 6,500 people. It should be noted that last year, 4,700 soldiers served in the army, and a quarter of them were women.

Currently, Denmark’s population is 6 million. The local army employs 9,000 professional military personnel. By making military service mandatory for women, Denmark became the last country in Scandinavia to take this step. Norway was the first to take such a step in 2015, followed by Sweden in 2017.

While security issues are becoming even more relevant in today’s world, countries like Denmark are seeking to further strengthen their military potential and preparedness by also including women in the army. Only time will tell how the new law will affect life, but now fulfilling one’s civic duty is required from everyone. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!