Denmark to enforce equal conscription

The Danish government, consisting of Social Democrats, Venstre, and Moderates, proposes a major revamp of conscription to ensure complete equality between women and men. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced that starting from 2026, all young individuals, regardless of gender, will be summoned for Defense Day and conscription. The plan is to extend the military service from the current four months to eleven months, with the first five months as basic training, followed by six months of operational service and further training. The government aims to increase the number of conscripts from 4,700 currently to 5,000. Despite the government’s support, some parties in the defense agreement, such as the Danish Democrats and Liberal Alliance, oppose mandatory military service equality, which could impede the government’s objectives. Conscientious objectors will still be able to opt-out of military service, and service in the Emergency Management Agency remains an option.