Mexico threatens legal action against Google over 'Gulf of Mexico' name change

Mexico insists the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America infringes its territorial rights.

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Mexico has threatened to take legal action against Google after the tech giant renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" for its US-based users.

President Claudia Sheinbaum stated on Monday that her government would proceed with a lawsuit if Google does not reverse the change, arguing that the renaming infringes on Mexico's territorial waters.

Sheinbaum clarified that the name change, which follows an executive order signed by former US President Donald Trump in January 2025, only applies to the portion of the Gulf that lies under US jurisdiction. She emphasised that this order cannot extend to the parts of the Gulf that are within Mexico's and Cuba's territorial waters.

"The Gulf of Mexico is divided between the United States, Mexico, and Cuba," Sheinbaum said during her daily press conference. "Google has no right to rename the continental shelf belonging to Mexico and Cuba. The decree only applies to the part of the Gulf that belongs to the United States."

 

 

 

 

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The Mexican government had previously raised the issue with Google in January, urging the company to respect Mexico's territorial claims. Sheinbaum reiterated that Mexico cannot accept the renaming of any geographic area that includes part of its national territory. A new letter has been sent to Google, making it clear that any references to "Gulf of America" must be strictly limited to the US-controlled portion of the Gulf.

In response to the controversy, Google has maintained that its decision to change the name on US-based maps is in line with its usual practice of reflecting geographic names from official government sources. The company explained that for users in Mexico, the body of water would continue to be labelled the "Gulf of Mexico," while users in other countries would see both names.

"The renaming is consistent with our normal operating procedure to reflect geographic names prescribed by different authoritative government sources," Google stated. "People in the United States will see 'Gulf of America,' while people in other countries will see both names."

While Google has indicated a willingness to engage in "constructive dialogue" on the matter, Sheinbaum has made it clear that if the company does not respond appropriately, legal action will be pursued.

She also proposed a cheeky suggestion during the press conference, stating that if the US insists on renaming the Gulf, perhaps the United States should be renamed "Mexican America," referencing the period before 1848, when Mexico lost a significant portion of its territory to the US.

The situation has drawn considerable attention, with critics pointing out that Google’s decision to implement the name change on its US maps is politically charged. Mexico's government is firm in its stance, warning that if the issue is not resolved, it will take the necessary legal steps to protect its territorial integrity.

Apple, another tech giant, has also complied with Trump’s order and renamed the Gulf of Mexico on its mapping platform for US users, calling it the "Gulf of America."

Sheinbaum concluded by stressing that Mexico would wait for Google's response before deciding whether to move forward with a civil lawsuit.