Denmark on Monday began its expanded military conscription program, with around 1,600 recruits starting an 11-month service period as the country accelerates its defense buildup amid growing security concerns.
The extended conscription period replaces the previous four-month service and is part of reforms announced by Denmark in 2024. The changes also introduce military service for women for the first time and aim to increase the number of conscripts from 5,000 annually to 7,500 by 2033.
The new recruits will undergo five months of basic training followed by six months of operational service. The Danish Armed Forces are also introducing new conscription tracks, including a drone platoon within the Special Operations Command.
First Conscripts Prepare for Greenland Deployment
The new intake comes as Denmark prepares to deploy conscripts to Greenland for the first time later this month.
A company of more than 100 soldiers will serve in Greenland for one month, taking over operational duties from professional troops.
The deployment carries additional political significance as U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly sought to annex the semi-autonomous Danish territory, citing national security concerns. Both Greenland and Denmark have firmly rejected the proposal.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at last month’s NATO summit in Ankara that Denmark was prepared to defend every part of its territory within the alliance, “including our own.”
Defense Expansion Driven by Ukraine War
Denmark’s military buildup has been accelerated by security concerns linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine and increased focus on Arctic security.
Silas Nohr, a 19-year-old first-day conscript from the western Danish town of Varde, said he supported the longer service period.
“Now we have 11 months, and I feel like you can really get into it, really experience it and get a lot deeper into the military,” he said.
Denmark’s conscription system operates through a ballot process for all healthy young adults who turn 18, although the military has for many years relied almost entirely on volunteers, with the lottery used only to fill remaining quotas.
Other Nordic countries, including Sweden, Finland and Norway, also maintain conscription-based military systems, as do Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the Baltic region.
