NATO Summit Focus (Ankara): Ahead of the July 7-8 NATO leaders’ meeting, the big debate is still defense spending—and what it’s meant to deter—while the US presses allies to do more and warns against “funny math.” Lithuania Nuclear Policy: Lithuania is moving to lift its constitutional ban on hosting nuclear weapons and foreign military bases, aligning with Finland and aiming to be “part of nuclear deterrence” as Russia’s posture grows. Air Defense Upgrade: NATO is set to modernize its airborne early warning by selecting Saab GlobalEye to replace part of the aging E-3 AWACS fleet, with 11 countries including Lithuania in the joint procurement. Counter-Drone Push: NATO also approved a $40 billion, five-year counter-drone initiative to expand drone procurement, training, and a shared marketplace. Security Analysis: An IISS report claims Russia ran an 18-month drone campaign over Europe using a “shadow fleet,” raising questions about NATO gaps. Local Tech & Finance (Vilnius/Lithuania): Payward Europe secured an EMI license in Lithuania, strengthening regulated euro and crypto “fiat-rail” access for Kraken-linked services. Energy & Environment: Eurostat says renewables hit 45.5% of EU electricity in Q1 2026, with Lithuania at 75.7% of power from renewables. Culture/Community: A long-running Vilnius University-linked study challenges old ideas about how land animals evolved from ocean ancestors.