Mexico Challenges Google Maps’ Renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America

Google Maps recently announced it will rename the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America” within its service, following a directive issued by returning U.S. President Donald Trump. The change means users in the U.S. will now see the area labeled as the Gulf of America, while Mexican users will continue to see it as the Gulf of Mexico. For users outside of the two countries, Google Maps will display both names.

This decision has sparked backlash in Mexico, with President Claudia Sheinbaum strongly opposing the move. During a press conference on Thursday, Sheinbaum presented a formal letter arguing that the U.S. does not have the authority to unilaterally rename the Gulf of Mexico. She cited the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which states a country’s sovereignty extends only 12 nautical miles (about 22 kilometers) from its coastline.

“(The name change) could only correspond to the 12 nautical miles away from the coastlines of the United States of America,” Sheinbaum stated. In her remarks, she also called on Google to ensure proper representation of Mexico on its platform. “We ask that when you put Mexican America in the search engine, the map appears that we presented,” she said.

The controversy has brought attention to Google’s compliance with Trump’s executive order, with critics accusing the tech giant of being too quick to align with the U.S. government. However, Google defended its decision, explaining that it routinely updates place names based on official announcements by governments.

For more details, read the full statement from Mexico’s President here.