The Mexican government is contemplating legal action against Google for renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on its mapping platforms, according to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. This modification is the result of an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump, which mandated the renaming of the Gulf. Google has executed this by displaying “Gulf of America” to users in the United States, while users in Mexico continue to see “Gulf of Mexico.” Both identities are displayed in other regions.
The response of Google to Mexico’s request to revert to the original name has been met with dissatisfaction by President Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum has emphasized that the designation “Gulf of America” is non-internationally recognized and violates Mexico’s sovereignty over its territorial waters. She stated that the government is considering the possibility of pursuing a civil lawsuit if Google fails to revise its stance. Sheinbaum also emphasized that the renaming initiative by the U.S. administration is limited to its territorial waters and should not be adopted for the entire Gulf, which is shared with Mexico and Cuba.
This dispute serves as a reminder of the persistent tensions between the United States and Mexico with respect to territorial recognition and geographic nomenclature. The Mexican government maintains that the term “Gulf of Mexico” has been internationally recognized for centuries and continues to promote its exclusive use in global references.