In a recent letter to Google, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged the tech giant to reconsider its plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. This change stems from a controversial executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump during his first week in office, but it will only affect users in the U.S.; globally, it will still be recognized as the Gulf of Mexico.
Sheinbaum argues that the U.S. lacks the legal authority to change the gulf's name, referencing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which states that a country’s sovereignty extends just 12 nautical miles from its coast. “The name change could only correspond to the 12 nautical miles away from the coastlines of the United States of America,” she stated.
Google has yet to respond officially to these concerns. In a social media statement, the company noted their practice of updating names based on official government changes. This inconsistency in naming conventions highlights the complexities involved when one name differs across locations, a challenge the firm faces frequently.
In a playful twist, Sheinbaum joked that Mexico might also request that “Mexican America” be recognized in maps, poking fun at Trump’s renaming attempts. "For us, it is still the Gulf of Mexico, and for the entire world, it is still the Gulf of Mexico," she remarked, expressing her country’s willingness to retain its historical maritime identity.
