In a bold response to recent name changes ordered by former President Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has formally requested Google not to rename the Gulf of Mexico for U.S. users.
Mexico Protests Google's Gulf of Mexico Name Change
Mexico Protests Google's Gulf of Mexico Name Change
Mexican authorities urge Google to keep the Gulf of Mexico's original name, rejecting U.S. executive order.
The Mexican government has expressed strong objection to Google’s application of a U.S. executive decision that seeks to officially refer to the Gulf as the Gulf of America. This request follows President Trump’s directive in his first week of office, although the name change will only be reflected in Google Maps for users in the U.S., with the rest of the world still recognizing the historic title.
Sheinbaum argues that the U.S. does not have the authority to alter the recognized name of an international waterway, as outlined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. “The name change could only correspond to the 12 nautical miles away from the coastlines of the United States of America,” she declared in her correspondence with Google.
The tech giant has yet to comment on this issue but has defended its practice of aligning name changes with official government sources. In a recent social media statement, Google noted, “When official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local name.” They also noted their adherence to other U.S. government updates, such as renaming Mount Denali to Mount McKinley for American users.
In a tone of levity, Sheinbaum teased that Mexico might ask for the label “Mexican America” to be included on their maps as well. “For us, it is still the Gulf of Mexico and for the entire world, it remains so,” she quipped, reflecting Mexico's pride in its cultural and geographical identity.
As this geopolitical naming dispute unfolds, the implications of such a change could resonate not only through maps but also in broader discussions about national sovereignty and international naming conventions.
Sheinbaum argues that the U.S. does not have the authority to alter the recognized name of an international waterway, as outlined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. “The name change could only correspond to the 12 nautical miles away from the coastlines of the United States of America,” she declared in her correspondence with Google.
The tech giant has yet to comment on this issue but has defended its practice of aligning name changes with official government sources. In a recent social media statement, Google noted, “When official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local name.” They also noted their adherence to other U.S. government updates, such as renaming Mount Denali to Mount McKinley for American users.
In a tone of levity, Sheinbaum teased that Mexico might ask for the label “Mexican America” to be included on their maps as well. “For us, it is still the Gulf of Mexico and for the entire world, it remains so,” she quipped, reflecting Mexico's pride in its cultural and geographical identity.
As this geopolitical naming dispute unfolds, the implications of such a change could resonate not only through maps but also in broader discussions about national sovereignty and international naming conventions.
