The Danish government and parliament have officially agreed to introduce mandatory military service for women, set to take effect in 2026. This means that, for the first time, women will be conscripted on equal terms with men.
This was announced by Denmark’s Minister of Defense, Troels Lund Poulsen, following a meeting with parliamentary party representatives. According to the agreement, the law on equal military service conditions will come into force on July 1, 2025. This means that from 2026 onward, women who turn 18 after this date will be subject to mandatory conscription if there are not enough volunteers.
Previously, in April 2024, Danish parliamentary parties had agreed to introduce female conscription. However, two political parties, including the Liberal Alliance, vetoed the proposal, delaying its implementation until 2027. The recent decision by the Liberal Alliance to lift the veto has now allowed the reform to be implemented a year earlier.
Additionally, as part of efforts to strengthen national defense, Denmark plans to allocate an additional 50 billion kroner ($7 billion) for military expenditures over the next two years.
