Denmark has enacted a new law requiring women to register for military conscription at age 18, placing them in the same national lottery system as men. 

The legislation was passed in June 2023 and took effect Tuesday.

Previously, only men were subject to conscription, while women could serve only as volunteers. Under the new policy, voluntary enlistment remains open to all genders, but for the first time, any remaining positions will be filled through a gender-neutral draft.

Colonel Kenneth Strom, who oversees conscription, said the change was politically driven and designed to increase military readiness. “It’s based on the current security situation in order to get more combat power,” he said.

The shift follows moves by Norway and Sweden to adopt gender-neutral drafts in response to regional threats, particularly Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. 

With the expanded draft, the country aims to raise the annual number of conscripts to 6,500 annually by 2033.

The draft reform is only one aspect of Denmark’s defense modernization efforts. The country recently decided to increase defense spending by 40.5 billion kroner ($5.9 billion) over five years to meet NATO targets.