Google Maps has sparked a diplomatic and cultural debate by renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, following an executive order signed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The tech giant made the change after the U.S. Geographic Names System (USGS) officially updated the name, aligning with its practice of reflecting such governmental decisions. However, the move has been met with resistance from Mexico, which argues that the U.S. lacks the legal authority to unilaterally rename the body of water. According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a country’s territorial sea extends only up to 12 nautical miles from its coastline. Beyond that, the Gulf is considered shared waters, subject to international agreements involving the U.S., Mexico, and Cuba. Mexico’s government has emphasized that any renaming beyond its territorial waters is not valid under international law.
The name change is now visible on Google Maps for users in the United States, where the Gulf is labeled as the Gulf of America. However, users in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, see a dual designation: “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).” Meanwhile, users in Mexico continue to see the body of water referred to as the Gulf of Mexico, reflecting the country’s refusal to recognize the change. The decision to rename the Gulf was one of the first executive orders signed by Trump, and on February 9, he further declared the first-ever Gulf of America Day while flying over the region. Trump celebrated the move on his social media platform, Truth Social, posting an image of the Gulf with the caption “GULF OF AMERICA!”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has been vocal in opposing the renaming, stating that any country’s ability to change the designation of a maritime feature applies only within its territorial waters, which extend up to 12 nautical miles from the coastline. Beyond that, she argued, the renaming has no legal basis. She also humorously suggested that Mexico might retaliate by renaming the North American continent “Mexican America” within its borders. This playful jab highlights the deeper cultural and political tensions surrounding the issue, as the renaming is seen by many as an attempt to assert U.S. influence over a shared geographic feature.
Google’s decision to comply with the U.S. government’s renaming has drawn criticism from those who argue that the company should maintain a neutral and internationally recognized designation for such features. The dispute underscores the complex interplay between national sovereignty, international law, and corporate policies in shaping how geographic names are represented on global platforms like Google Maps. While the U.S. has the authority to make such changes within its territorial waters, the broader Gulf of Mexico is a shared resource, and its naming is subject to international agreements and the input of all affected nations.
The renaming has also sparked broader debates about cultural identity and the power of naming in shaping perceptions of geography and history. For many in Mexico and other parts of the world, the Gulf of Mexico is a name deeply rooted in history and cultural heritage, and its change to the Gulf of America is seen as an erosion of that identity. Trump’s celebration of the renaming, including the declaration of Gulf of America Day, has further polarized the issue, framing it as a nationalist victory rather than a neutral administrative change.
As the situation stands, the renaming remains a point of contention without a clear resolution. While Google has complied with the U.S. government’s decision, the international community and governments like Mexico’s continue to challenge the validity of the change. The debate highlights the challenges of balancing national interests with international cooperation and the importance of cultural sensitivity in decisions that affect shared resources and heritage. For now, the Gulf’s name remains a symbol of both unity and division, reflecting the complex geopolitics of the region and the world at large.
