In a historic decision, a majority in the Danish Parliament has now passed that female conscription will become a reality in Denmark after the upcoming parliamentary election. This change is part of a broader reform of the Danish defense, where the number of conscripts will also increase significantly. The decision was made late Tuesday night at the Ministry of Defense, where Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen (V) presented the details at a press conference. “This is an important step towards full gender equality in our defense structure,” he stated. The reform, which will come into effect on January 1, 2027, means that all young Danes, regardless of gender, will now be required to serve in the military. This marks a significant change from the current system, where only men are obligated, while women have had the option to volunteer. The new agreement, reached without the participation of the Liberal Alliance and the Danish Democrats, also includes an extension of the conscription period from four to eleven months. The first five months will include basic training, followed by six months of operational service, for example in the Army’s 1st Brigade.
This change is part of a larger plan to increase the number of conscripts from the current 4700 to up to 7500 annually. Of these, 1000 will be able to serve their duty in the Emergency Management Agency. Despite opposition from both the Liberal Alliance, which advocates for conscription rights instead of mandatory service, and the Danish Democrats, who do not support female conscription, the Defense Minister managed to secure a majority for the proposal with support from the Socialist People’s Party (SF), The Conservatives, The Radical Left and The Danish People’s Party. “It is a solution that ensures we can strengthen our defense while promoting gender equality,” said Troels Lund Poulsen. With this new structure, the government hopes to be able to more effectively meet future security challenges.