The Gulf of Mexico, a vital body of water bordered by the United States, Mexico, and Cuba, has become the center of a political and geographical naming dispute. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has formally requested Google to reconsider its decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on its US-based Google Maps platform, a change reportedly triggered by a previous executive order from former US President Donald Trump.
Gulf of Mexico on Google Maps: A political dispute arises as Mexico challenges the renaming of this body of water, bordered by the US, Mexico, and Cuba.
According to reports, the name alteration to “Gulf of America” will only be visible to Google Maps users within the United States, while the traditional name, Gulf of Mexico, will be maintained for users in other parts of the world. This localized renaming has ignited a debate over international maritime naming conventions and national sovereignty.
Mexico’s objection is rooted in international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). President Sheinbaum argues that under UNCLOS, a nation’s sovereign territory extends only 12 nautical miles from its coastline. Therefore, the unilateral renaming by the U.S., even if implemented only within its digital maps, is seen as overreaching on an international body of water that spans beyond any single nation’s territorial waters. She stated that the name change “could only correspond to the 12 nautical miles away from the coastlines of the United States of America,” implying that the vast majority of the Gulf falls outside of US jurisdiction for naming purposes.
Google, in a public statement, addressed the controversy by stating their “longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.” This suggests that the alteration on Google Maps is a reflection of the US government’s directive, rather than an independent decision by the tech giant. Google also mentioned a similar situation with Mount Denali, which is reportedly renamed Mount McKinley within the US on their maps, again following a US government order. They further clarified that “When official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local name,” indicating a policy of reflecting local naming preferences based on governmental sources.
President Sheinbaum has openly criticized Google’s stance, arguing that the company should not simply comply with “the mandate of a country” to rename “an international sea.” In a lighter vein, she alluded to the potential for reciprocal actions, jokingly suggesting that Mexico might request Google to rename the United States as “Mexican America” on maps viewed from Mexico. This playful jab underscores the seriousness of Mexico’s position on maintaining the historical and internationally recognized name, Gulf of Mexico. Sheinbaum previously emphasized that “For us it is still the Gulf of Mexico, and for the entire world it is still the Gulf of Mexico,” highlighting the global consensus on the name and Mexico’s firm stance against the unilateral renaming attempt. The situation remains a point of discussion and highlights the complexities of digital cartography in reflecting geopolitical sensitivities and international norms.
