U.S. President Donald Trump has directed special forces commanders to prepare a plan for a possible attack on Greenland, according to a report by the UK-based Daily Mail published on Sunday. The report states that Trump issued the order to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) as part of an effort to secure the island before China or Russia could take control of it.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff have reportedly opposed the move, arguing that such an action would be illegal and unlikely to gain congressional approval. Meanwhile, leaders of Greenland’s political parties said on Friday that they do not wish to become part of either the United States or Denmark, emphasizing their desire to remain Greenlandic.

At a White House event on Friday, Trump said the United States would act in Greenland regardless of local approval, asserting that inaction could allow Russia or China to seize the island. He added that the U.S. would not accept either country as a neighbor.