European countries reintroduce compulsory military service, include women | DW News

Key Concepts:

• Compulsory military service for women
• Defense spending increases
• European security landscape
• Impact of Russian aggression
• Military recruitment challenges
• Constitutional requirements for mandatory service
• Shift in European defense policies post-Cold War

1. Denmark's New Military Service Policy:

• Denmark is introducing compulsory military service for women, effective for those turning 18 after July 1st of the current year.
• Drafting could begin as early as 2026.
• Both men and women will participate in an annual ballot to select conscripts if volunteer numbers are insufficient.
• The duration of military service has been extended from 4 to 11 months.
• Denmark is increasing its defense spending by 6.8 billion euros over the next two years in response to the perceived threat from Russia.

2. Compulsory Military Service in Europe:

• Compulsory military service for women is not common in Europe.
• Sweden introduced it eight years prior to the report.
• Norway, a non-EU but European NATO member, introduced it ten years prior to the report.
• Lithuania and Latvia are considering introducing it, with Latvia potentially doing so in 2028.

3. Germany's Stance on Mandatory Service:

• Introducing mandatory military service in Germany would require amending the German constitution.
• This necessitates a two-thirds majority in the German parliament (Bundestag).
• The current political landscape, with gains by far-right and far-left parties, makes achieving this majority difficult.
• The far-left holds a pacifist stance, while the far-right, though supportive, is excluded from coalition talks by all other parties.

4. Shifting European Security Landscape:

• Following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War, many European countries suspended military service due to a perceived era of peace.
• Russia's annexation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine prompted a shift in policy.
• European countries are now increasing defense spending and investing in their militaries.

5. Military Recruitment Challenges:

• Europe faces a shortage of military recruits and soldiers.
• A high-ranking German military official stated that Germany lacks 20,000 active soldiers and up to 100,000 reservists.
• Introducing compulsory military service is seen as one tool to address this shortage.

6. Historical Context:

• The reporter notes that military service was previously common in countries like Spain and Germany but was later scrapped.
• The current situation represents a return to considering such measures due to changed geopolitical circumstances.

7. Conclusion:

• The main takeaway is that the security landscape in Europe is changing rapidly due to Russian aggression.
• This is leading to increased defense spending, reconsideration of military service policies, and efforts to bolster military recruitment across the continent.
• While the specific approaches may vary from country to country, the overall trend is towards strengthening European defense capabilities.