Overview
- Using a protocol workaround, South Africa secured an early "Declaration of Heads of State and Government" despite a full US boycott.
- The White House accused Pretoria of obstructing the presidency handover and called the maneuver embarrassing, a charge South Africa rejects.
- Pretoria declined the traditional ceremony after Washington offered only a low‑level embassy representative, saying the transfer will occur later, possibly in Pretoria.
- The 30‑page, non‑binding text emphasizes climate adaptation finance, expansion of renewable energy, debt relief for poorer countries, and cooperation on critical minerals.
- With several leaders absent, figures like Emmanuel Macron and Mark Carney questioned the forum’s trajectory, while Germany’s Friedrich Merz criticized the US no‑show and Ukraine‑plan talks moved to Geneva.