According to President Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico has filed a lawsuit against Google for renaming the Gulf of Mexico into the “Gulf of America” for U.S. users on Google Maps. The legal action is following persistent diplomatic protests and threats after former U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on the first day of his presidency, which required federal agencies to use the new name.
Trump justified his action by saying that the U.S. “shoulders most of the responsibility there,” and therefore, he believes it has the right to take ownership. However, Mexico maintains that the United States cannot rename an international sea area that is surrounded by other countries, inlcuding Cuba.
Despite a formal request by President Sheinbaum in January to reverse the change, Google decided to proceed, explaining its choice by saying it adheres to official U.S. government nomenclature. The government of Sheinbaum responded by taking legal action, though the specific court for the lawsuit has yet to be decided.
Google said that the new label is only for U.S. users, and users in other countries will still see “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).” However, Mexico argues that the change confuses the general public and disturbs existing international standards. By refusing to recognize the new name, the Associated Press initiated a confrontation with the White House that led to a court order to maintain the agency’s press access.
Further controversy may lie ahead. As reported, Trump plans to rename the Persian Gulf as the “Gulf of Arabia” during his planned trip to Saudi Arabia when referring to it in U.S. contexts—a move that has been met with strong objections from Iranian officials.
As arguments over geographical names become more heated, analysts warn that diplomatic battles could escalate as nations try to project power and identity.
