(LOOTPRESS) – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Thursday that her government may file a civil lawsuit against Google if the company continues referring to the body of water between northeastern Mexico and the southeastern United States as the ‘Gulf of America.’
Controversy Over Renaming the Gulf
Traditionally known worldwide as the Gulf of Mexico, the body of water became a geopolitical issue after former U.S. President Donald Trump proposed renaming it. Sheinbaum clarified during her morning press conference that Trump’s decree only applies to the U.S. continental shelf and does not affect Mexican sovereignty over the Gulf.
“We have sovereignty over our continental shelf,” Sheinbaum stated, reinforcing that Mexico retains control over much of the Gulf’s waters.
Mexico’s Response to Google’s Stance
The Mexican government formally sent a letter to Google, arguing that renaming the Gulf was “wrong” and that “the entire Gulf of Mexico cannot be called the Gulf of America.” However, Google has so far maintained the disputed name.
Google previously stated on its X account (formerly Twitter) that it follows “a long-standing practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.”
Potential Legal Action
While Sheinbaum did not specify where a lawsuit might be filed, she made it clear that Mexico is considering legal options to challenge Google’s decision.
The dispute adds to growing tensions over territorial and historical naming rights in international waters, and it remains to be seen how Mexico will proceed in its efforts to defend the Gulf’s traditional name.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
