Mexico Threatens Legal Action Against Google Over ‘Gulf of America’ Map Change

Mexico is considering suing Google over its labeling of the “Gulf of America” on Google Maps. The change follows former U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on January 20 to rename the Gulf of Mexico. However, Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has made it clear that the order only applies to U.S. jurisdiction, not the entire Gulf.

Mexico Pushes Back on Google’s Naming Decision

During a press conference on Monday, Sheinbaum stated that if Google does not adjust the label to reflect only U.S. waters, legal action may be taken.

“We’re talking about 22 nautical miles, not the entire gulf,” she emphasized, criticizing Google’s decision to rename sections of the Gulf that belong to Mexico and Cuba.

Sheinbaum also revealed that the Mexican government has been in discussions with Google since January. A formal letter sent to the tech giant reiterated that Mexico would not accept any name change affecting its territorial waters. The letter stated:

“Any reference to the ‘Gulf of America’ initiative on your Google Maps platform must be exclusively limited to the marine area under U.S. jurisdiction. Any extension beyond that zone exceeds the authority of any national government or private entity. Should that be the case, the Government of Mexico will take the appropriate legal actions as deemed necessary.”

Sheinbaum previously hinted at a civil lawsuit and stated that Mexico would wait for Google’s response before proceeding with legal measures.

Google’s Response and the Broader Implications

Why Did Trump Rename the Gulf of Mexico? Google Maps Update Explained

Google has yet to respond to the Mexican government’s latest letter. The company previously defended its decision, stating that it follows official geographic naming conventions from authoritative sources such as the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).

Google also clarified that U.S.-based users would see “Gulf of America,” while Mexican users would still see “Gulf of Mexico.” International users would see a hybrid label: “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).”

Matthew Zierler, a political science professor at Michigan State University specializing in foreign policy and international law, explained that individual nations do not have the authority to unilaterally rename international waters.

“Renaming Denali to McKinley is within the United States’ purview, but the Gulf of Mexico is a different issue,” he told Business Insider.

Trump’s decision to rename the Gulf was initially announced on January 7 before his second-term inauguration. He defended the change as a patriotic move, stating, “We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. What a beautiful name—and it’s appropriate.”

Sheinbaum responded with sarcasm, suggesting that North America should be renamed “América Mexicana” (Mexican America), referencing historical maps that once labeled the continent this way.

It remains unclear whether Mexico will pursue similar action against Apple, which also updated its maps following Trump’s order. As of now, Sheinbaum’s office has not provided further comments on the matter.

For further analysis and updates, read the full article on My Unbounded Life: Why Did Trump Rename the Gulf of Mexico? Google Maps Update Explained.

Sources:

• Business Insider: Original Article
• U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
• Michigan State University, Professor Matthew Zierler’s statement

---

Amazon’s Best Current Deals 👌👇