National service of 14 months is obligatory for all men above the age of 18, unlike women who have been excluded from roles in the military.

The draft bill requires parliamentary approval, but Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas told reporters after the cabinet session that women are expected to be recruited as early as October.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said the move "strengthens the combat effectiveness of the National Guard, grants women the right to contribute equally to military service, promoting the notion that national security is a collective responsibility."

The army has around 12,000 active personnel, as well as over 50,000 reservists who are regularly called up for training.

Since a 1974 invasion by Turkey triggered by an Athens-backed coup, Cyprus has has been divided between the Greek-speaking south and the Turkish Cypriot north, which unilaterally declared independence in 1983 but is only recognised by Ankara.

Cyprus has seen bolstering the Greek Cypriot National Guard as a priority, with authorities estimating 40,000 Turkish troops stationed on the north of the Mediterranean island.