Mexico Takes Legal Action Against Google Over Gulf Naming Dispute

In a heated dispute over geographic naming, President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration argues for a return to the traditional term, amid political tensions stemming from the U.S.

Mexico's government has initiated legal proceedings against tech giant Google for its insistence on labeling the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America within its mapping services for U.S. users. President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed that her administration had previously reached out to Google multiple times, urging the company to reverse this renaming initiative, which they believe undermines Mexico's territorial integrity.

The exact location of the lawsuit has not been disclosed, and Google has yet to respond to requests for comment. The controversy was exacerbated last Thursday when the Republican-led House of Representatives cast a vote to officially adopt the name Gulf of America for federal agencies. This political move stems from an executive order originally signed by former President Donald Trump on his first day in office, asserting that the United States performs the majority of operations in the Gulf, thus laying claim to the name.

In Sheinbaum's view, Trump's mandate only pertains to the U.S. portion of the continental shelf and not the entirety of the Gulf, which is bordered by Mexico, Cuba, and the U.S. She declared, "All we want is for the decree issued by the U.S. government to be complied with," emphasizing that the U.S. does not hold the power to rename this international body of water.

Earlier this year, President Sheinbaum corresponded with Google, requesting the reconsideration of this decision, but was met with indifference. Following the change, Google asserted that it adheres to established practices of reflecting names updated by official government sources. Notably, while users in Mexico will still see the traditional Gulf of Mexico label, international users will encounter the contested Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America) title.

This naming conflict has evoked significant tension, particularly as the Associated Press resisted labeling it "Gulf of America," resulting in sanctions from the White House. A federal judge intervened in April, ruling against the restriction of the AP's access to events.

Moreover, Trump has signaled potential plans to alter the United States' reference to another significant waterway during an upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, indicating that the Persian Gulf may be rebranded as the Arabian Gulf. This development has stirred reactions from Iranian officials, who hope such discussions remain mere speculation and not an actionable policy change. As the dispute over the Gulf's nomenclature escalates, international relations continue to be tested.