Denmark is establishing a new mobilization force comprised of thousands of former conscripts ready to rejoin the Armed Forces in times of crisis or war. This initiative was announced by Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen in a video speech on Constitution Day.

The announcement comes amidst other significant defense developments, including the upcoming government decision on purchasing ground-based air defense systems, expected to be operational by 2026, and the acceleration of the new 11-month conscription period, now set to begin in February 2026 instead of August 2026.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen addressed the announcement, emphasizing the seriousness of the current geopolitical situation and suggesting that the threat posed by Russia will likely motivate more young people to serve their country.

The concept of a mobilization force isn’t entirely new, as it was previously mentioned in the defense agreement from April 2024, which highlighted the importance of recalling conscripts within five years. This led to an analysis of concrete options for recalling conscripts to support operational readiness.

Before the mobilization force can be implemented, Troels Lund Poulsen needs to secure the support of his defense agreement circle. Liberal Alliance’s party leader, Alex Vanopslagh, indicated conditional support, stating that if the mobilization force is deemed necessary to enhance Denmark’s contribution to European territorial defense, they would not oppose it.