Mexico is voicing strong objections to Google's recent decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America' on Google Maps, as requested by former U.S. President Donald Trump. During her daily news conference on Thursday morning, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum articulated her concerns, stating the tech giant made an arbitrary decision to alter such significant geography without due consideration.
Sheinbaum recounted her government’s written correspondence to Google, insisting it is inappropriate for them to redefine the name of this internationally recognized body of water based on the whims of any one country. “It can’t be defined by one country; a country only has jurisdiction over its territory and not an international ocean,” Sheinbaum asserted, underlining her point with the reminder of the gulf's historical identity.
The name 'Gulf of Mexico' has been entrenched for over 400 years, dating back to historical references such as English geographer Richard Hakluyt and Italian cartographer Baptista Boazio, who identified it as such in their works from the late 1500s. Historians have documented how various names have been used for the gulf throughout history, but Sheinbaum's remarks highlight the deep-rooted identity tied to this geographic feature.
She humorously suggested, “Let’s ask Google to make this change, so when people search for America Mexicana, it will show on a map,” referring to how Mexico was historically termed America Mexicana, which included vast territories of what is now the United States and some parts of Canada. This was part of her critique of the desire to manipulate geographical names for political narratives.
This isn’t the first time the name 'Gulf of America' has been floated. A Democratic representative from Mississippi proposed renaming the gulf back in 2012, and even comedian Stephen Colbert joked about the title during the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, stating, “I don't think we can call it the Gulf of Mexico anymore. We broke it, we bought it.” Colbert’s quip reflects the often contentious relationship between environmental degradation and national identity.
Responses to the latest renaming have been swift. According to statements from British officials, England will not recognize the name change, reinforcing Sheinbaum’s assertion about international naming conventions. The global geography community expresses concern over the influence of politics on geographical names, which often hold historical and cultural significance to the regions they belong to.
The Gulf of Mexico, measuring over 615,000 square miles, serves as not just natural beauty but also economic powerhouse. Ports along its coast facilitate significant trade, including the export of natural gas, coal, and machinery, making it pivotal to the regional economies of both the U.S. and Mexico. The gulf encapsulates countless stories entwined with history, ecology, and now politics.
Even as Google notes the incessant use of both 'Gulf of America' for U.S. users and 'Gulf of Mexico' for Mexican users, the matter raises broader questions about cartographic sovereignty and identity. Sheinbaum's remarks resonate within the recent historical arc where names are wielded as tools of soft power between nations.
The gulf’s waters, filled with ancient salt deposits and rich biodiversity—home to black corals over 2,000 years old—continue to flow irrespective of political changes, reflecting nature’s indifference to human conflicts over naming rights. The current debate encapsulates cultural histories and political legacies converging upon this iconic water body.
With the fierce objections raised by Mexico, the distinction between what should be called the Gulf of Mexico versus the Gulf of America may lead to continuing discussions about national pride, identity, and the impulses behind renaming geographic features. The conversation around the gulf highlights just how much a name can invoke emotion, claim territory, and define relationships across borders.
What remains clear is the gulf’s historical significance is unlikely to change, regardless of the new or old nomenclature championed by political figures. The world will continue to recognize it as the Gulf of Mexico, underscoring Sheinbaum’s poignant reminder of geography's ties to historical claims and cultural identities.