Debate intensifies over Google's gulf renaming amid opposition

Google announced that the Google Maps app will display the Gulf of Mexico as the American Gulf for users in the United States. This change will not affect users in Mexico, who will continue to see the existing name.

Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum, opposed Google's decision during a press conference. She announced that her government plans to send the company a letter explaining how the names of international waters should be determined. "It is not for a single country to change the name of an international sea; this is the role of an international organisation," she stated. "We will be sending a letter to Google tomorrow to clarify how it is defined," she added. "The name cannot be established solely by one country," she concluded.

Sheinbaum sarcastically suggested, "I might also request that Google Maps represent 'Mexican America' instead of North America." She recalled that the name "Mexican America" was once used in Mexico's founding document from 1814.

The decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico was announced by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Gulf of Mexico, also referred to as the "third coast" of the United States, borders five American states: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

Donald Trump, former President of the USA, first announced this change on 8th January, arguing, "we put the most work there, it's ours." The Gulf of Mexico is an essential body of water for the region due to shipping, the oil industry, and fishing.

The "Washington Post" notes that the Gulf of Mexico has retained its current name for over four centuries. The name change aims to "honour the legacy of American greatness," as stated by the U.S. Department of the Interior. "These changes affirm the nation’s commitment to preserving the United States' extraordinary heritage and ensuring that future generations of Americans will honour their heroes' legacy and historical assets," the statement added.