Google's new Gulf name sparks Mexico-US diplomatic row
Google plans to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the American Gulf USA. Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has expressed opposition to this decision.
Google announced that in the Google Maps app for users in the United States, the Gulf of Mexico will appear as the American Gulf. This change does not affect users in Mexico, who will still see it as the current name.
Reaction of Mexico's President
Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum, expressed her opposition to Google's decision during a press conference. She announced that her government will send a letter to the company to explain how the names of international waters should be defined. "It is not a country that changes the name of an international sea, but an international organization that does. Therefore, we will send a letter to Google tomorrow to explain how it is defined," she stated. "The name cannot be defined by just a country," she added.
Sheinbaum sarcastically suggested that "she also wants to request that Mexican America appears on Google Maps" instead of North America. She reminded that the name "Mexican America" was used in the past, appearing in Mexico's founding document from 1814.
Controversies over the name change
The decision to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico was announced by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Gulf of Mexico, also known as the "third coast" of the United States, borders five American states: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
Donald Trump, former President of the USA, first announced this change on January 8, arguing that "we put the most work there, it's ours." The Gulf of Mexico is a crucial body of water for the region due to shipping, the oil industry, and fishing.
The "Washington Post" notes that the Gulf of Mexico has had its current name for over four centuries. The name change aims to "honor the legacy of American greatness," as stated by the U.S. Department of the Interior. "These changes affirm the nation's commitment to preserving the United States' extraordinary heritage and ensuring that future generations of Americans will honor their heroes' legacy and historical assets," the statement added.
