According to the BBC, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced a plan to improve national defense on the same day, which calls for the introduction of a conscription system for women. Denmark imposes a four-month military service obligation for men over the age of 18, but women can volunteer to serve in the military. Although women are not obligated to serve in the military, Denmark accounts for 25% of all troops. In addition to introducing the women’s conscription system, Denmark also announced a plan to more than double the period of service from four months to 11 months. By 2028, it will create an infantry brigade consisting of up to 6,000 people and build a ground anti-aircraft network.
Denmark became the third country in Europe to introduce the female conscription system after Norway in 2015 and Sweden in 2017. All three countries are Nordic countries. Nordic countries have been beefing up their military power since the 2010s when Russia’s military threat grew, while Sweden and Finland, which were neutral countries, recently joined NATO. Denmark and Norway were the founding members of NATO in 1949, and the whole of Northern Europe can check Russia under the name of NATO allies. Northern European countries have also actively supported Ukraine, which is at war with Russia. Denmark has been considered one of the most aggressive Western countries that have provided Ukraine with U.S.-made F-16 fighter training to pilots in addition to cutting-edge weapons and funds. Denmark spent about 1.4 percent of its GDP on defense last year, but plans to increase defense spending by 5.4 billion euros over the next five years to meet NATO’s goal of 2 percent. Foreign Minister Lars Löcker-Rasmussen said the defense overhaul plan was designed to secure deterrence, adding that Russia is not a threat to Denmark, but it should be prepared not to put itself in such a situation.
SALLY LEE
US ASIA JOURNAL
