Mexico Asks Google Not To Rename Gulf of America on Google Maps

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has officially protested Google’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America on its maps. This change follows an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump in his first week in office, which directed the tech giant to make the update. The Gulf of Mexico, a body of water bordered by the U.S., Cuba, and Mexico, will now appear as the Gulf of America for users in the U.S., though international users will still see the original name.

In response to the executive order, President Sheinbaum sent a letter to Google requesting that the company reconsider. In a press conference, she pointed out the legal implications of such a change, arguing that under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a country’s sovereignty extends only 12 nautical miles from its coastline. 

"If a country wants to change the designation of something in the sea, it would only apply up to 12 nautical miles. It cannot apply to the rest, in this case, the Gulf of Mexico. This is what we explained in detail to Google," Sheinbaum explained.

While Google has not officially commented on the letter, the company previously stated that it follows a “longstanding practice” of updating names when they are changed in official government sources. According to Google, U.S. users will see the Gulf of America, while those in Mexico and Cuba will continue to see the Gulf of Mexico, with the rest of the world seeing both names.

The name change stems from a wider initiative by President Trump to promote American heritage, including a renaming of Mount McKinley to Denali in the U.S. Sheinbaum has strongly criticized these efforts, suggesting that the U.S. should not be able to unilaterally impose such changes on international landmarks. She also added a touch of humor to the situation by joking that Mexico might now demand that Google change the name of the continent to "Mexican America" on its maps.

Sheinbaum’s criticisms highlight broader tensions over national sovereignty and territorial names. She has also previously proposed renaming North America as "América Mexicana," referencing a 1607 map that labeled parts of the continent under this name. “We ask that when you put Mexican America in the search engine, the map appears that we presented,” Sheinbaum added, referring to the historic map she shared earlier in the year.

The decision by Google to comply with Trump's order has sparked debate not just in Mexico, but internationally. While the Gulf of Mexico has been known by this name for centuries, the shift in U.S. policy reflects a broader push by the Trump administration to assert American dominance in geographic and cultural naming practices.

For now, it seems that Google’s maps will serve as a compromise: users in the U.S. will see the new name, while the rest of the world retains the original. But whether this move will stand or be reversed remains uncertain as both governments and Google grapple with the legal and political ramifications of such a shift.

This controversy underscores ongoing geopolitical tensions, especially in the context of President Trump’s broader policies regarding national identity and borders. Whether or not Mexico’s request will be heeded, the incident serves as a reminder of the complexities of digital mapping and the influence of corporate decisions on international relations.