- Denmark plans to draft both men and women into military service starting in 2026, in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
- This makes Denmark the third European country to introduce gender-neutral conscription, following Norway and Sweden.
- The government aims to call up 5,000 co-ed conscripts annually.
- The initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize and diversify the Danish Defense Forces amid personnel retention challenges and the need for increased funding.
- Conscription duration is extended from four months to 11 months, with a significant budget increase of approximately six billion euros over the next five years.
- The decision is partly in reaction to the perceived threat from Russia to Europe, despite the Danish Foreign Minister stating that Russia does not pose a territorial threat to Denmark.
- Denmark aims to strengthen European defense capabilities, partly motivated by uncertainty over long-term American support for Europe.
- The country plans to exceed the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defense in the coming years.
- Public reaction to including women in conscription is divided, and some political parties oppose the move, indicating that the implementation is not yet guaranteed.
DW News is a global news TV program broadcast by German public state-owned international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW).
AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center
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