Latest news with #Katrine
Los Angeles Times
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Women can be drafted into the Danish military as Russian aggression and military investment grow
HOVELTE, Denmark — Peering across a dense stretch of woodland outside of Denmark's capital with camouflage paint smeared across her face, 20-year-old Katrine scans the horizon for approaching threats. After nearly four months of military training, the young soldier and the rest of her unit spent early June completing their final exercises near the Danish army's barracks in Hovelte, 15 miles north of Copenhagen. Katrine and other female soldiers, all of whom spoke to the Associated Press on June 11 on the condition that only their first names be used because of operational security, volunteered for military service earlier this year. Until now, that was the only way women were allowed to partake in military service, although women have been able to enlist as full-time members of the armed forces since the early 1970s The Scandinavian country is seeking to increase the number of young people in the military by extending compulsory enlistment to women for the first time. Men and women can both still volunteer, and the remaining places will be filled by a gender-neutral draft lottery. 'In the situation the world is in now, it's needed,' Katrine said. 'I think it's only fair and right that women participate equally with men.' Under new rules passed by Denmark's parliament earlier in June, Danish women who turn 18 after July 1, 2025, will be entered into the lottery system, on an equal footing with their male compatriots. The change comes against a backdrop of Russian aggression and growing military investment across NATO countries. Even from the relative safety of Denmark, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine casts its shadow. Lessons from the Ukrainian battlefields have even filtered down into their training. 'That makes it very real,' Katrine said. Denmark's gender-parity reforms were originally outlined in 2024 as part of a major defense agreement. The program was originally expected to be implemented by early 2027, but has been brought forward to summer 2025. Col. Kenneth Strøm, head of the conscription program, told AP the move is based on 'the current security situation.' 'They could take part in NATO collective deterrence,' Strøm added. 'Raising the number of conscripts, that would simply lead to more combat power.' Denmark, a nation of 6 million people, has about 9,000 professional troops. The new arrangement is expected to bring the figure up to 6,500 people doing military service annually by 2033, up from 4,700 last year. Under Danish law, all physically fit men over age 18 are called up for military service. Some people — both men and women — volunteer, and the rest of the places are filled by a lottery system that until now has only involved men. Women volunteers make up roughly a quarter of 2024's cohort. 'Some will probably be very disappointed being chosen to go into the military,' Anne Sofie, part of Katrine's cohort of volunteers, said of the new female conscripts. 'Some will probably be surprised and like it a lot more than they think they would.' The duration of service is also being extended, from four to 11 months. Conscripts will first spend five months in basic training, followed by six months of operational service, plus additional lessons. The move is part of a broader military buildup by the Nordic nation. In February, Denmark's government announced plans to bolster its military by setting up a $7 billion fund that it said would raise the country's defense spending to more than 3% of gross domestic product this year. Parts of the conscript program are being financed by the so-called Acceleration Fund. 'We see a sharpened security situation in Europe. We have the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. We have focus on the Baltic countries, where Denmark is contributing a lot of soldiers. So, I think it's a general effort to strengthen the Danish defense,' said researcher Rikke Haugegaard from the Royal Danish Defense College. But Haugegaard notes there are many challenges, from ill-fitting equipment and a lack of additional barracks, to potential cases of sexual harassment. 'For the next year or two, we will be building a lot of new buildings to accommodate all these people. So, it will be a gradual process,' she added. In 2017, neighboring Sweden instituted a military draft for both men and women after its government spoke of a deteriorating security environment in Europe. Norway introduced its own law applying military conscription to both sexes in 2013. Brooks writes for the Associated Press.
Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Danish women to face conscription as Europe faces Russia attack 'in three years'
Danish women will now face being called up for 11 months of military service through a lottery system, aligning with measures already in place for men following a change in law Denmark has expanded its military service to include women - as NATO warns Russia could attack another European country in "three to five years." Amid heightened tensions across Europe, a change in law came into effect on July 1, and Danish women who turn 18 after that date will face conscription by lottery. Danish women will now be called up for 11 months of military service, aligning with measures already in place for men. 9,000 people are currently serving in Denmark's military. Previously, women had only been allowed to join the military voluntarily. Volunteers will be recruited first, with the remaining called up through the lottery system. In 2024, around 4,700 Danish men and women undertook military service, and 24% of women were female volunteers. 'In the world situation we're in right now, it's necessary to have more conscripts, and I think that women should contribute to that equally, as men do,' Katrine, a recruit in the Danish Royal Life Guard said. 'There are different things that they need to improve, especially in terms of equipment. Right now, it's made for men, so perhaps the rucksacks are a bit too large and the uniforms are large as well'. It comes after Denmark agreed with NATO allies to increase defence spending and plans to increase the duration of the conscription from four months to 11 months in 2026. It also plans to raise the number of recruits from around 5,000 to 7,500 in 2033. Meanwhile, NATO has warned that Russia could be ready to attack another European country in 3-5 years. To prepare, the military alliance — most of whose members are EU countries — has agreed that national military and defence-related investment should rise to 5% of GDP. Denmark's priority will be to set Europe on track to properly defend itself by 2030. That will require laying the groundwork for countries to buy the military equipment needed to execute NATO's defence plans with Trump's security priorities lying outside Europe. That will mean wrapping up negotiations on proposals that will help countries purchase and make military equipment together. Moreover, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen vowed on Thursday to back Ukraine in its quest to join the European Union. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky joined Frederiksen and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the western city of Aarhus, where Denmark is marking the start of its eighth EU presidency since joining in 1973. It come as Trump administration decided to halt some arms shipments promised to help Kyiv fight off Russia's invasion. Russia's renewed push to capture more territory has put Ukraine's defenses under severe strain, with the war now in its fourth year. Russian missiles and drones are battering Ukrainian cities. U.S.-led efforts to find a peace settlement have stalled. 'Ukraine belongs in the EU. It is in the interest of both Denmark and Europe. Therefore, the Danish Presidency will do everything we can to help Ukraine on its path towards EU membership,' Frederiksen said in a statement.
Saudi Gazette
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Denmark to conscript women for military service
COPENHAGEN — Denmark on Tuesday expanded its military service to include women, as the Nordic country seeks to recruit more soldiers and strengthen its defenses amid heightened security concerns across Europe. Danish women now face being called up for 11 months of military service when they turn 18, after a change in the law came into effect. Under new rules passed by Denmark's parliament, women are to join teenage males in a lottery system that could require them to undertake a period of conscription. Up to now, women were allowed to participate in military service when they turned 18, but on a voluntary basis. From Tuesday, both men and women turning 18 will be required to register to be assessed for potential military service. Volunteers will be recruited first, with the remaining numbers made up through the lottery system. The change will also see the period of conscription for teenagers rise from four months to 11 months. About 4,700 Danish men and women undertook a short period of military service in 2024 – about 24% of them being female volunteers. The new rules on conscription are expected to see the overall number doing military service annually rise to 6,500 by 2033. Denmark is following the example of neighboring Sweden and Norway, which both brought in conscription for women in recent years. The government in March also announced a 40.5bn Danish crowns (£4.3bn, $5.9bn) increase in defence spending over the next five years to meet Nato targets. There are about 9,000 professional personnel currently serving in Denmark's military. Colonel Kenneth Strom, head of the Danish military's conscription program, said the change was "based on a political decision and a political agreement made by the parties". He added: "And obviously, it's based on the current security situation in order to get more combat power and have those skills that are needed for either the Army, Navy, Air Force or even the Special Operations Forces." Speaking to the Reuters news agency, Katrine, a current volunteer in Denmark's military, said: "In the world situation we're in right now, it's necessary to have more conscripts, and I think that women should contribute to that equally, as men do. "I think it's a positive change." — Agencies
CNN
02-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Denmark to conscript women for military service
Denmark on Tuesday expanded its military service to include women, as the Nordic country seeks to recruit more soldiers and strengthen its defenses amid heightened security concerns across Europe. Under a law passed by Denmark's parliament in June 2023, Denmark will require women turning 18 after July 1, 2025 to register for assessment days for potential military conscription, aligning with measures already in place for men. Until now, women, who last year made up around 24% of all recruits, had been allowed to join the military on a voluntary basis. 'In the world situation we're in right now, it's necessary to have more conscripts, and I think that women should contribute to that equally, as men do,' Katrine, a recruit in the Danish Royal Life Guard, told Reuters without giving her last name. In Denmark, volunteers are signed up first for conscription, while the remaining numbers are drawn up in a lottery system. The armed forces are in the process of making adjustments in barracks and equipment better suited for women. 'There are different things that they need to improve, especially in terms of equipment. Right now, it's made for men, so perhaps the rucksacks are a bit too large and the uniforms are large as well,' said Katrine. Denmark, which together with NATO allies last week agreed to boost defense spending, plans to gradually increase the duration of the conscription period from four months to 11 months in 2026 and raise the number of recruits doing military service from around 5,000 now to 7,500 in 2033.
CNN
02-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Denmark to conscript women for military service
Denmark on Tuesday expanded its military service to include women, as the Nordic country seeks to recruit more soldiers and strengthen its defenses amid heightened security concerns across Europe. Under a law passed by Denmark's parliament in June 2023, Denmark will require women turning 18 after July 1, 2025 to register for assessment days for potential military conscription, aligning with measures already in place for men. Until now, women, who last year made up around 24% of all recruits, had been allowed to join the military on a voluntary basis. 'In the world situation we're in right now, it's necessary to have more conscripts, and I think that women should contribute to that equally, as men do,' Katrine, a recruit in the Danish Royal Life Guard, told Reuters without giving her last name. In Denmark, volunteers are signed up first for conscription, while the remaining numbers are drawn up in a lottery system. The armed forces are in the process of making adjustments in barracks and equipment better suited for women. 'There are different things that they need to improve, especially in terms of equipment. Right now, it's made for men, so perhaps the rucksacks are a bit too large and the uniforms are large as well,' said Katrine. Denmark, which together with NATO allies last week agreed to boost defense spending, plans to gradually increase the duration of the conscription period from four months to 11 months in 2026 and raise the number of recruits doing military service from around 5,000 now to 7,500 in 2033.
