Mexican president challenges Google over 'Gulf of America' renaming
The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, has warned Google about a potential lawsuit regarding the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" on maps in the USA. In response to the criticism, Google Maps has decided to block the option to add reviews for this water body.
Claudia Sheinbaum, voicing her dissatisfaction, announced during a press conference the possibility of filing a civil lawsuit against the tech giant if Google does not revert the change of the Gulf's name. She emphasized that the Gulf of Mexico's name is historically established and universally recognized.
The name change on Google Maps was made following a decision by former US President Donald Trump's administration. Users in Mexico still see the traditional name, while in other countries, both versions are available. Sheinbaum asserts that the US authorities have no right to rename the entirety of the water body, only the portion near their coast.
Gulf of Mexico or Gulf of America?
Sheinbaum stressed the importance of historical recognition, stating, "If necessary we will file a civil suit. Our legal area is already looking into what that would mean, but we hope that (Google) reconsiders."
According to the BBC, Google Maps decided to block reviews for the Gulf of Mexico after receiving criticism for renaming it the "Gulf of America" for users in the United States.
This change was implemented after President Donald Trump ordered it to be included in official government documents. Currently, clicking on the Gulf's label in Google Maps displays a note stating that "posting is currently disabled."
Tensions between Mexico and the USA
The renaming of the gulf adds to the ongoing tensions between Mexico and the United States. Upon taking office, Donald Trump threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on Mexican goods, arguing that Mexico should be more involved in curbing illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling to the USA.
After negotiations, the tariffs were suspended until March 1st, in exchange for Mexico's concessions regarding border security. The President of Mexico has consistently protested against these actions, emphasizing that decisions about geographical names should honor international standards and history.
