Denmark calls for mandatory military service for women

Islamabad: Denmark proposed to make military service compulsory for women, as the Nordic country aspires to increase the size of its armed forces.

Denmark has proposed compulsory military conscription for women, amid rising criticism from its Western allies over its defense shortcomings. 

The plan was unveiled by Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen in an interview with local media. 

The ministry, unlike in the past, has not shared the full report citing “current security policy situation and Russia’s aggression”.

Notably, the new measure comes as Denmark provides increasing levels of support to Ukraine in the war to oust Russia from the country. 

Currently, women can join on a voluntary basis while men generally are required to serve if they are called on under a lottery system. 

There are only ten countries that conscript both men and women, of which Sweden and Norway, the first NATO country to introduce obligatory military service for women as an act of gender equality.

Countries like Israel, Myanmar, Eritrea, Libya, Malaysia, North Korea, Peru and Tunisia conscript women into their armed forces, but differ in length of service and are allowed exemptions. 

Other countries — such as Finland, Turkey, Lithuania, Singapore, and South Korea — still use a system of conscription that requires military service from all able-bodied men, although women are permitted to serve voluntarily.

Denmark last week decided to give Ukraine its new French-made heavy artillery system, a total of 19 self-propelled guns of the Caesar class. 

The donation was the centre of debate in the Nordic country due to fears it might leave Denmark’s own defence vulnerable. 

–With additional input from Bloomberg