EU Considers Expansion of Operation Aspides to Protect Trade Flows (politico.eu)

• Strengthening Operation Aspides to counter maritime disruptions.
• Focus on protecting energy and trade flows critical to EU economy.
• Coordinated policy shift between Commission and External Action Service.

"European leadership, represented by Kaja Kallas and Ursula von der Leyen, is evaluating the expansion of Operation Aspides. The initiative aims to stabilize energy and trade corridors originating from the Middle East, which are vital for European industrial resilience. By reinforcing maritime security presence, the EU seeks to mitigate risks to supply chain continuity caused by regional conflicts and volatile logistics environments."