MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Thursday that her administration is considering the possibility of taking legal action against Google if the company continues to refer to the body of water between northeastern Mexico and the southeastern United States as the “Gulf of America.” The area, traditionally known as the Gulf of Mexico worldwide, has been thrust into the spotlight geopolitically following President Donald Trump’s declaration of his intention to rename the Gulf.
During her morning press briefing, Sheinbaum clarified that the president’s directive applies solely to the “continental shelf of the United States” since Mexico maintains significant control over a considerable portion of the Gulf. “We have sovereignty over our continental shelf,” she emphasized.
Despite the Mexican government’s communication to Google pointing out the inaccuracy of labeling the entire Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, the company has stood by its decision to retain the disputed nomenclature. The specific jurisdiction in which any potential legal action might be brought remains unclear.
Google recently stated through its X account, formerly on Twitter, that it adheres to a “long-standing practice of updating names based on official government sources.” As of Thursday, the depiction of the Gulf on Google Maps varied depending on the user’s location and other contextual information. Users situated in the United States saw it labeled as the Gulf of America, whereas those physically in Mexico saw it denoted as the Gulf of Mexico. In numerous other countries globally, the label read as “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).”
President Sheinbaum has consistently championed the name Gulf of Mexico, citing its historical origins dating back to 1607 and its formal recognition by the United Nations. Drawing reference to the constitution of Apatzingán, which preceded Mexico’s first constitution, she highlighted that the North American territory was previously known as “Mexican America.” She playfully contrasted this with Trump’s stance to underscore the broader ramifications of altering the Gulf’s name.
In light of this, Sheinbaum declared on Thursday that the Mexican government would request Google to display “Mexican America” when the term is searched for on the map. This isn’t the first instance where differences between Mexicans and Americans have emerged over the naming of significant geographical landmarks, such as the river along the border between Texas and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas. While Mexico refers to it as Rio Bravo, the United States identifies it as the Rio Grande.
Recent developments saw the White House barring Associated Press journalists from various events, including those within the Oval Office, attributing it to the news agency’s stance on the naming issue. The Associated Press continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” while also acknowledging Trump’s proposed renaming, aiming to ensure that geographical features are universally recognizable.
