In a move stirring international debate, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced potential legal action against Google following the tech giant’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on its U.S. Google Maps platform. This change aligns with an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump, mandating the renaming of the body of water in official U.S. documents and maps.
President Sheinbaum expressed her government’s firm opposition to this unilateral renaming, emphasizing that such a change cannot legally extend beyond U.S. territorial waters. Citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, she noted that a nation’s sovereignty extends only up to 12 nautical miles from its coastline. “Under no circumstances does Mexico accept that any geographic zone under its jurisdiction be renamed,” Sheinbaum stated during a recent press briefing.
In response to Mexico’s concerns, Google has maintained that its policies require adherence to official government sources for geographic names. The company has indicated a willingness to engage in dialogue, offering to meet with Mexican officials to discuss the issue further. However, Google has not reversed the name change, leading President Sheinbaum to consider a civil lawsuit to protect Mexico’s sovereignty and the internationally recognized name of the Gulf.
The renaming has also sparked broader discussions about the influence of tech companies in representing geopolitical realities and the potential implications of unilateral decisions on international relations. As the situation develops, it underscores the complex interplay between national sovereignty, corporate policies, and global perceptions in the digital age.
