MEXICO CITY — On Thursday, President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico stated that her administration may consider pursuing a civil lawsuit against Google if the tech giant persists in referring to the body of water between northeastern Mexico and southeastern United States as the “Gulf of America.”
This region has traditionally been known worldwide as the Gulf of Mexico, gaining heightened attention after former President Donald Trump proposed to alter its name.
During her morning press briefing, Sheinbaum clarified that the recent presidential decree pertains solely to the “continental shelf of the United States,” asserting Mexico’s continued control over significant portions of the Gulf. “Our sovereignty extends over our continental shelf,” she emphasized.
Despite a letter sent by the Mexican government to Google indicating their disagreement and asserting that the entire Gulf cannot adequately be recognized as the Gulf of America, the company has continued to use this terminology.
It remains uncertain where such a lawsuit might be filed. Last month, Google communicated through its platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that it follows a longstanding protocol to update geographical names based on what is officially recognized by the relevant government sources.
As of Thursday, the naming of the Gulf on Google Maps varied based on the user’s geographical location and data. Users in the United States would see it labeled as the Gulf of America, whereas those in Mexico would still see it referred to as the Gulf of Mexico. In various other global regions, the body of water is displayed as “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).”
Sheinbaum has consistently advocated for the traditional name Gulf of Mexico, noting its historical significance as it has been recognized since 1607 and acknowledged by the United Nations.
Additionally, she referenced the constitution of Apatzingán, which predates Mexico’s first constitution, noting that the region was previously known as “Mexican America.” This point was used by Sheinbaum to humorously critique Trump while highlighting the broader international implications of changing geographic labels.
She stated that the Mexican government would be requesting Google to list “Mexican America” when users search for it on maps.
Disagreements regarding the names of significant geographical landmarks between Mexicans and Americans are not new. For instance, the river that forms the boundary between Texas and Mexican states such as Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas is recognized as Rio Bravo in Mexico, whereas it is referred to as the Rio Grande in the United States.
In a related incident this week, the White House prevented Associated Press journalists from attending several events, including some held in the Oval Office, due to the news agency’s policy regarding the name usage. The AP continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” while also acknowledging Trump’s alternative naming to maintain global recognition of geographical locations.
