Mexico has threatened to take legal action against Google if the tech giant persists in renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” for U.S. users on its Maps app.
President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Monday that the Mexican government had sent a letter to Google, reiterating its stance that President Donald Trump’s executive order on the matter only applies to U.S. territorial waters. Sheinbaum emphasized that Mexico does not accept any alterations to the name of a geographic area that includes parts of its national territory.
The government’s letter asserts that “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,” Sheinbaum stated.
She added that the government would await Google’s response before proceeding with legal action. “We will wait for Google’s response and, if not, we will proceed in court,” Sheinbaum said during her daily press briefing.
The controversy stems from an executive order signed by Trump shortly after his inauguration in January, which led to changes in U.S. mapping services. While Google stated that the name “Gulf of Mexico” would remain in place for users in Mexico, those in the United States and other countries would see both names.
Apple has also implemented the “Gulf of America” designation for U.S. users in accordance with Trump’s order.
In a pointed response, Sheinbaum suggested that, in the spirit of historical territorial shifts, the United States could be renamed “Mexican America,” referencing a map from before 1848 when much of the present-day U.S. was part of Mexico.
The dispute remains unresolved as Mexico awaits a response from Google, with legal avenues still on the table.
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