Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has written to Google, requesting the tech company not rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “American Gulf” as suggested by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The president emphasized that such a change would be inappropriate, as the Gulf is a shared body of water between Mexico, Cuba, and the United States.
Sheinbaum’s letter to Google stressed that the United States cannot unilaterally change the name of the Gulf. The president explained that, according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a country’s sovereignty over a body of water only extends 12 nautical miles (about 22 kilometers) from its coastline. This means that the U.S. does not have the legal authority to rename a body of water that it shares with neighboring countries.
The Mexican leader further clarified her position during a press conference, asserting that the Gulf of Mexico remains an internationally recognized name and should continue to be used globally. Sheinbaum pointed out that any such name change should be agreed upon by all countries with a stake in the region.
In her letter, Sheinbaum also requested that Google prominently feature a map of “Mexican America” when users search for it. This request, she explained, was part of an effort to ensure that Mexico’s perspective on the name and its geographical significance is represented fairly.
This development follows Google’s announcement that it would update its maps to show the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” in the United States. This change would be made after an official update to the U.S. Geographic Names System. However, both names would still appear outside of the U.S. and Mexico.
The controversy surrounding the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico highlights the broader issue of national identity and territorial rights, with the debate involving not only political figures but also tech companies that control widely used platforms like Google Maps. Mexico’s strong response reflects its desire to protect its cultural and geographical heritage.
This disagreement is also part of a larger political conversation in the U.S. about national symbols and names, with some advocating for changes that reflect America’s global reach. However, many in Mexico and other neighboring countries view such changes as disregarding shared histories and international agreements.
