Donald Trump formally launched his ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza at a signing ceremony in Davos on Thursday, despite backlash over the invitation of Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu.

The US president signed the document on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum at a ceremony attended by Tony Blair, who was controversially named on the board.

Trump has invited dozens of world leaders to join the initiative, which has been rejected by Washington’s allies including Sir Keir Starmer, who said on Thursday that the UK would not sign the agreement. France and Germany have also declined.

Concerns have been raised by European nations over the unexpected invitation extended to Putin, who has waged a brutal war in Ukraine since February 2022. There has also been anger among Arab states over the inclusion of Netanyahu, whose war in Gaza has led to the deaths of 72,000 Palestinians.

Russia said late on Wednesday it was studying the proposal after Trump said it would join.

Around 35 countries have committed to join including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey and Belarus.

Senior officials from 19 countries were introduced as founding members of the collective that Trump is set to oversee.

“When America booms the entire world booms,” Trump told the gathering.

Countries represented on stage included: Bahrain, Morocco, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE, Uzbekistan and Mongolia.

European countries were notably absent from the grouping. The UK said it would not be signing the treaty today, according to British foreign minister Yvette Cooper.

“We won't be one of the signatories today, because this is about a legal treaty that raises much broader issues, and we do also have concerns about (Russian) President Putin being part of something which is talking about peace,” Cooper told BBC News from Davos.

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