Mexico has warned that it will take Google to court if the tech giant insists on renaming the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” for users of its Maps application in the United States. President Claudia Sheinbaum made this declaration on Monday, reiterating her government’s firm opposition to any alteration of the internationally recognized name of the body of water.
Sheinbaum stated that the Mexican government had sent another official letter to Google, emphasizing that former U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on the name change only applies to the portion of the continental shelf under U.S. jurisdiction.
The letter, she explained, makes it clear that “under no circumstances does Mexico accept the renaming of any geographic area that includes part of its national territory and that is under its jurisdiction.” She stressed that if Google does not rectify the change, Mexico will escalate the matter through legal channels. “We will wait for Google’s response and, if not, we will proceed in court,” she declared during her daily news conference.
The controversy began when Trump signed an executive order shortly after his January 20 inauguration, officially renaming the Gulf of Mexico for U.S. maps and government documents. In response, Sheinbaum initially indicated last Friday that legal action against Google was under consideration, stating, “If necessary, we will file a civil suit.”
Taking a jab at the decision, Sheinbaum humorously suggested renaming the United States as “Mexican America,” referencing a historical map predating 1848, when Mexico lost a significant portion of its territory to the United States.
Google, which operates under its parent company Alphabet, has responded by maintaining that the Maps application will continue to display “Gulf of Mexico” for users in Mexico, while third-country users will see both names. However, Apple has also complied with Trump’s directive by renaming the Gulf for U.S. users of its mapping application.
The dispute has sparked strong reactions, with Mexico standing firm in its opposition to any unilateral changes that affect its sovereignty. With legal action on the table, the controversy over the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico is far from over.
