Denmark has announced the introduction of female conscription starting from 2026, and the extension of military service from four to 11 months for both men and women, making it the third European nation - together with Norway and Sweden - to require women to serve in the armed forces.
The BBC reports it.
Copenhagen also wants to increase the defense budget by almost $6 billion over the next five years to reach NATO goals.
"We are not rearming because we want war. We are rearming because we want to avoid it," said Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, adding that the government was trying to achieve "full equality between the sexes".
Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen also spoke on the topic: "A more robust conscription, which includes full gender equality, must contribute to solving the challenges of defence, national mobilization and the equipment of our armed forces".
In Denmark, women can currently volunteer for military service.
Last year, 4,700 people served in the military, of which about 25 percent were women.
This number will be increased to 5,000 per year.
The Danish Armed Forces currently has around 20,000 active personnel, including around 9,000 professional troops.
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