Lithuanian Politics & Government: Lithuania’s President Nausėda says Vilnius expects “first results” from its diplomatic outreach to China within six months, after a Taiwan-related spat, while officials also report Lithuania will allow China a lower-level charge d’affaires office—raising questions about how far Vilnius will go on Beijing’s one-China demands. EU Budget & Security: EU leaders in Brussels agreed to push a preliminary deal on the €2 trillion long-term budget (2028–2034) by October, as the fight over funding pits net payers against states worried about cuts to agriculture and cohesion—while the same summit framed security and rearmament as central priorities. Defense & Industry: Lithuania is set to deepen Ukraine-linked drone production: The Fourth Law and RSI Europe signed a memorandum to develop joint UAV manufacturing in Lithuania, with Ukrainian battlefield feedback built into upgrades. Border & Migration: Lithuania’s interior minister ordered tougher internal-border monitoring aimed at secondary migration flows from Latvia, using more surveillance and stepped-up checks at transport hubs and travel routes while insisting Schengen freedom of movement remains intact. International Watch: The EU also condemned Russian drone incursions as a deliberate threat, as NATO and allies keep shifting forces and funding to deter Russia.