Overview
- On July 1 the new conscription law took effect, bringing all 18-year-olds of both sexes into a volunteer-plus-lottery system.
- Volunteers will be recruited before any draft lottery is held to fill remaining service slots for up to 11 months.
- Denmark will extend mandatory service from four to 11 months in 2026 and aim to raise annual intake to 7,500 by 2033.
- The Defence Ministry is overhauling health requirements and equipment design to ensure suitability for both men and women.
- The reform aligns with NATO’s target of 5% GDP defence investment and follows Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s pledge to back Ukraine’s EU accession.