Mexico announced on Monday that it is awaiting a new response from Google regarding its request to fully restore the name “Gulf of Mexico” on Google Maps, before considering legal action. President Claudia Sheinbaum shared a letter from Cris Turner, Google’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, which stated that Google would not alter its policy following the time when U.S. President Donald Trump referred to the body of water as the “Gulf of America.”
Currently, Google Maps displays the body of water as the “Gulf of America” within the United States, the “Gulf of Mexico” within Mexico, and as “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)” in other regions. In his letter, Turner explained that Google had adopted this naming policy to ensure impartiality and consistency across different regions, and the company was open to meeting with the Mexican government in person. Sheinbaum emphasized that Mexico would wait for Google’s response but would pursue legal action if the issue is not resolved.
In his letter, Cris Turner wrote that while international treaties and conventions do not specifically govern how private mapping companies should depict geographic features, Google follows a consistent policy of consulting multiple trusted sources to ensure that its maps provide the most current and accurate representation of the world.
Mexico has argued that Google’s mapping policy infringes on its sovereignty because the U.S. only controls about 46% of the Gulf, while Mexico oversees 49% and Cuba holds around 5%. The name “Gulf of Mexico” has been in use since 1607 and is recognized by the United Nations.
In response to Google’s letter, Mexican officials stated they would pursue legal action, insisting that “under no circumstance will Mexico accept the renaming of a geographic area within its own territory and jurisdiction.”
The renaming of the Gulf of Mexico by Trump has sparked tensions between Mexico and the U.S. at a critical time for their relationship. President Sheinbaum has had to carefully navigate dealings with Trump amid threats of tariffs and the looming prospect of mass deportations, the full impact of which has yet to be felt.
In addition to the legal threat against Google, Sheinbaum announced that Mexico and the U.S. would hold high-level meetings this week to discuss trade and security, aiming to maintain a “long-term plan of collaboration” between the two nations. These talks are part of ongoing efforts by Mexico to prevent a larger geopolitical crisis.
The renaming has also caused divisions within the U.S. Last week, the White House barred reporters from several events, including some in the Oval Office, citing the news agency’s stance on the name. The agency has used “Gulf of Mexico” to ensure global recognition of geographic names while also acknowledging Trump’s decision to rename it.
Other journalistic organizations, including the White House Correspondents’ Organization and the New York Times, have voiced concerns about violations of press freedom.