Mexico has warned Google that it will take legal action if the company continues to label the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" on maps shown to U.S.-based users.
The move follows an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump, which only applies to the U.S. continental shelf, not Mexico’s or Cuba’s.
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President Claudia Sheinbaum voiced strong objections on Monday, saying Google’s renaming of the entire Gulf of Mexico is incorrect, as Trump’s decree only applied to waters within 22 nautical miles of the U.S. coast.
She argued that Google’s decision undermines Mexican and Cuban sovereignty, especially since the change affects areas beyond U.S. jurisdiction.
“Google is altering the name of the continental shelf of Mexico and Cuba, which is outside the scope of Trump’s decree,” Sheinbaum said, referring to the renaming as a misrepresentation. “We do not agree with this, and the Foreign Minister has sent a letter to address the issue.”
Google’s name change last week only affects U.S.-based users of Google Maps, who now see the Gulf of Mexico labeled as the "Gulf of America." Users in Mexico continue to see the original name, and users from other countries see both names listed. The company cited a policy of reflecting updates in official government sources.
In response to the renaming, Sheinbaum threatened legal action, stating that Mexico would file a civil lawsuit if the change is not reversed.
She also revealed a letter from Google reaffirming that the change is specific to U.S. waters and that users in Mexico would continue to see the Gulf of Mexico.
Sheinbaum announced that Mexico is preparing a new letter to Google, demanding that any reference to the "Gulf of America" be confined solely to the U.S. jurisdiction.
The letter further warned that any extension of this naming beyond U.S. waters would exceed the authority of any nation or private entity, and could lead to legal proceedings.
Mexico’s government has yet to decide on further legal steps, awaiting Google's response to the new request.