Denmark Speeds Up Plans for Mandatory Military Service for Women

Conscripts from The Royal Life Guards take part in a training exercise at the Kulsbjerg Training Area near Vordingborg, Denmark.

Photographer: Mads Claus Rasmussen/AFP/Getty Images

Denmark will start drafting women into its military from next year, accelerating planned reforms to boost the size of its armed forces and help counter increased threats from Russia.

Currently, women can join on a voluntary basis, while men are required to serve if they are called on under a lottery system devised to compensate for a potential lack of volunteers.