Latest news with #DanishRoyalLifeGuard
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- 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.
CNN
3 days ago
- 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
3 days ago
- 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
3 days ago
- 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.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Denmark expands military service to include women
By Tom Little and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Denmark on Tuesday expanded its military service to include women, as the Nordic country seeks to recruit more soldiers and strengthen its defences 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 defence 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.
