Why Europe Is Preparing for a New Era of War | WSJ

[music] >> Deep inside this forest, Europe's next generation is training for war.

These recruits are taking part in Denmark's conscription program. Which for the first time makes military service compulsory for women.

>> I think it's only fair that women contribute equally as men do. >> The Danish military says its gender equal program is inspiring other NATO allies amid troop shortages and as the war in Ukraine creates the most serious security challenge to the region in decades. Danish recruits will also focus

on another pressing issue, defending Greenland following takeover threats from President Trump.

>> I have had like a few comments about people being like, oh, do they really take females now and should they? But for the most part my family and friends and the strangers I've met and told have been very supportive and they're and also thought it was pretty badass some of them.

>> We spent time with some of Denmark's recruits last year. It's new conscription scheme extending service from four months to 11 began this August.

>> You do feel kind of like the minority but mostly it's just we're just all recruits. >> Katrina signed up voluntarily as she was intrigued by the military.

>> There are a few challenges that come with the territory of being a woman. Like sometimes if if your peers are much taller than you it can be a bit hard keeping up on the rock marches and sometimes the equipment is a bit ill-fitting but I know that's something that they're actually working on right

now because more women are going to be conscripts in the future.

Although its program has long been open to both men and women, until 2026, [music] only men were part of the mandatory draft.

>> We have the same gender rooms, same gender showers, and we, as long as we respect each other's boundaries, which we kind of have to do, of course, which we do.

Um, it doesn't really have that much effect the gender. >> Some comments that I heard from my family, from the older generation, they couldn't understand it quite. But for me personally, I'm really happy about it. I worked at a um at a clothing store before.