Mexico Sues Google Over ‘Gulf of America’ Name Change
Mexico has filed a lawsuit against Google for renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on its maps platform for U.S. users, President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed. The legal move comes after months of diplomatic protest and a formal request urging the tech giant to reverse the change.
Sheinbaum did not specify which jurisdiction the lawsuit was filed in, but she confirmed that the Mexican government had grown increasingly frustrated with Google’s refusal to revert to the internationally recognised name. The company has yet to respond publicly to the lawsuit.
The controversy began in January after former U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for the renaming of the Gulf, arguing that since the U.S. “does most of the work there,” the name should reflect American stewardship. In a symbolic gesture of support, the Republican-majority U.S. House of Representatives passed a vote last week approving the name change for use in federal documents.
Mexico, however, maintains that the U.S. has no authority to unilaterally rename a body of water that is shared with Mexico and bordered by Cuba. “All we want is for the decree issued by the U.S. government to be limited to their jurisdiction. The Gulf belongs to more than just the U.S.,” Sheinbaum stated.
The Mexican government initially wrote to Google in January, formally requesting that it ignore the U.S. directive. When Google refused, citing its policy of aligning with official naming changes provided by government sources, Sheinbaum warned of legal consequences in February.
In response, Google clarified that while U.S. users would see the body of water labeled as the “Gulf of America,” the label remains “Gulf of Mexico” within Mexico. For users outside both countries, the platform displays a hybrid name: “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).”
The decision has sparked backlash beyond Mexico. The Associated Press declined to adopt the new name, prompting the White House to temporarily restrict its access to certain press events – a move that was later overturned by a federal judge in April.
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump suggested this week that the U.S. might push to rename the Persian Gulf as the “Arabian Gulf” or “Gulf of Arabia” during an upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia. Iranian officials swiftly condemned the idea, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warning such a move would provoke strong backlash from Iran.
The geopolitical tensions underscore the sensitivity of geographic naming and the role tech platforms play in shaping global narratives.
