Mexico will sue Google if it changes the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” for U.S. users. President Claudia Sheinbaum made this announcement on Monday. She stated that her government had already sent another letter to Google, firmly rejecting the change.
Mexico Rejects U.S. Influence
Sheinbaum clarified that Donald Trump’s executive order applies only to the U.S.-owned continental shelf. Therefore, Google has no right to apply this change to areas belonging to Mexico or Cuba. She asserted, “Google has no right to rename Mexico’s continental shelf, nor does it have any right to rename Cuba’s continental shelf, because the Gulf of Mexico is divided among the three countries.”
Furthermore, Sheinbaum stressed that Mexico will not accept any geographic name change that affects its sovereignty. She explained, “Under no circumstances does Mexico accept the renaming of any geographic area that includes part of its national territory and that is under its jurisdiction.”
Legal Action If Google Does Not Comply
For now, Sheinbaum said Mexico will wait for Google’s response. However, if the company refuses to correct the name, she warned, “We will proceed in court.”
Previously, on Friday, she had already hinted at taking legal action. She had stated, “If necessary, we will file a civil suit.”
Trump’s Executive Order Sparks Controversy
Shortly after his January 20 inauguration, Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, this move has triggered strong opposition from Mexico.
In response, Sheinbaum sarcastically suggested renaming the United States as “Mexican America.” She referred to a historical map from before 1848, when the U.S. seized a large portion of Mexico’s territory.
Google and Apple Follow U.S. Policy
Meanwhile, Google, a division of Alphabet Inc., clarified that its Maps app in Mexico will still display “Gulf of Mexico.” However, users in other countries might see both names.
Additionally, Sheinbaum shared a letter that Google sent to Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente. In the letter, Google proposed a “constructive dialogue” and even suggested a face-to-face meeting to discuss the issue further.
According to Google, the name change follows “our normal operating procedure to reflect on our platforms geographic names prescribed by different authoritative, government sources, including reflecting where authoritative sources may differ.”
Similarly, Apple has also renamed the water body “Gulf of America” for U.S. users in compliance with Trump’s order.
What’s Next?
At this point, Mexico is waiting for Google’s final response. If Google refuses to reverse the change, Mexico will take legal action without hesitation. Ultimately, this dispute raises concerns about how digital platforms influence geopolitical issues.
