Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that her government is taking legal action against Google due to the tech company’s decision to label the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America on its maps. This change aligns with a controversial decree issued by former US President Donald Trump, which aimed to rename this significant maritime area that borders Mexico and Cuba.
During a press conference, Sheinbaum stated, “Google is already being sued. There has already been a first resolution, and it is awaited.” She emphasized that the correct designation should differentiate between the portions of the Gulf as it pertains to each country: “Google should put Gulf of America, where it is Gulf of America, which corresponds to the territory of the United States, and Gulf of Mexico for the territorial part that corresponds to Mexico and Cuba.”
Trump’s renaming initiative was characterized by Sheinbaum in a satirical light, as she previously suggested the idea of renaming North America to “Mexican America”. This lighthearted proposal reflects her stance against the renaming scheme that Trump ordered shortly after taking office, which he justified as a tribute to “American greatness”.
Google, in its defense, stated that the updates made to their maps comply with US government geographic designations as laid out by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). Mexico’s Foreign Ministry had previously attempted to address this issue by sending letters to Google requesting that they refrain from referring to Mexican waters as the Gulf of America.
While Trump’s order is only applicable within the United States, it has sparked significant discontent in Mexico, emphasizing the importance of accurate geographical naming as a matter of national pride. As this legal case unfolds, it sheds light on the issues of national identity and the implications of geopolitical changes on public information.
The ongoing legal battle may serve as a critical moment for international relations and highlighting the need for respectful recognition of territorial claims. The historical significance of the Gulf of Mexico is undeniable, having been known by its current name since the 16th century, and this case may underscore the complexities that arise when authority and cultural identity clash.