Google Maps Renames Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America Following Trump Executive Order | US News
Google Maps has updated the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, following an executive order from Donald Trump that reclassified the body of water in the US.
The American company had previously indicated it would adjust the naming of the oceanic basin once the US Geographic Names System (USGS) was amended accordingly.
Mexico urged Google to refrain from making the change, arguing that the US has no legal authority to rename the Gulf under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
This convention states that a nation’s territorial sea, which is under the jurisdiction of that nation, extends only up to 12 nautical miles (22km) from its shoreline.
The remaining area of the Gulf is shared among the US, Mexico, and Cuba under specific arrangements.
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The newly named Gulf of America for US Google users. Pic: Google Maps
How the Gulf appears on Google to most of the world, outside the US and Mexico. Pic: Google Maps
The Gulf of Mexico as seen on Google Maps in Mexico. Pic: Google Maps
When US users access Google, they will now see the Gulf referred to as the Gulf of America.
In other regions, such as the UK, the Gulf displays both titles: “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)”.
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Trump signs ‘Gulf of America Day’ order
Meanwhile, users in Mexico will continue to see the body of water referred to as the Gulf of Mexico.
This was one of the first official actions taken by the president to rename the Gulf, and on February 9, while flying over it, he signed a further order that established the inaugural Gulf of America Day.
“In the US, the Geographic Names Information System has officially changed ‘Gulf of Mexico’ to ‘Gulf of America’,” Google stated.
“As we communicated two weeks ago and in line with our long-standing practices, we have begun implementing updates to reflect this change,” Google added.
Celebrating the renaming, Mr. Trump shared an image of the Gulf of America on Truth Social, exclaiming: “GULF OF AMERICA!”
‘It cannot apply’
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters last month: “If a country seeks to alter the designation of something in the ocean, it would only apply up to 12 nautical miles,” as reported by CNN.
“It cannot apply to the rest, in this case, the Gulf of Mexico,” she further stated.
She also humorously remarked that she pondered renaming the continent of North America to “Mexican America” in her nation.
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She mentioned: “We request that when you search for Mexican America, the corresponding map we presented appears.”
A foundational document from 1814, which predated Mexico’s constitution, referred to the continent with that name.
