Mexico is preparing to take legal action against Google if the tech giant continues to display the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on Google Maps for users in the United States.
President Claudia Sheinbaum strongly opposed the change, stating that Google has no authority to rename the continental shelf belonging to Mexico and Cuba.
According to Sheinbaum, this change extends beyond former U.S. President Donald Trump’s decree, which only affected U.S. territorial waters.
Sheinbaum Condemns the Renaming
During a press conference, Sheinbaum clarified that Trump’s executive order applied only to the U.S. continental shelf, which extends 22 nautical miles from the U.S. coastline.
She emphasized that renaming the entire gulf is “incorrect” and “misleading.”
“What Google is doing here is changing the name of the continental shelf of Mexico and Cuba, which has nothing to do with Trump’s decree,”
Sheinbaum told reporters.
“We do not agree with this, and the Foreign Minister has sent a new letter addressing the issue.”
Google’s Response to Mexico’s Concerns
Google defended its decision, explaining that the change follows the company’s longstanding policy of applying name updates based on official government sources.
- U.S.-based users now see “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico”.
- Users in Mexico continue to see the name “Gulf of Mexico.”
- All other countries see both names displayed together.
In response to concerns raised by the Mexican government in January, Google reiterated its stance, stating:
“People using Maps in Mexico will continue to see ‘Gulf of Mexico.’ People in the U.S. will see ‘Gulf of America.’ Everyone else will see both names.”
Mexico Demands Correction or Legal Action Will Follow
Mexico has now issued a new official letter to Google, stating:
“Any reference to the ‘Gulf of America’ initiative on your Google Maps platform must be strictly limited to the marine area under U.S. jurisdiction.”
The letter further warns:
“Any extension beyond that zone exceeds the authority of any national government or private entity. Should that be the case, the Government of Mexico will take the appropriate legal actions as deemed necessary.”
Sheinbaum confirmed that Mexico will wait for Google’s response before pursuing legal action.
Political Reactions in Mexico
This dispute has added tension to U.S.-Mexico relations, with Mexican leaders criticizing the renaming as an overreach of U.S. influence.
Sheinbaum even mocked Trump’s renaming proposal, stating that by the same logic, the U.S. should be called “Mexican America.”
Meanwhile, Mexican citizens have reacted with frustration and humor, dismissing the name change as an unnecessary political move.
What’s Next?
With legal action on the table, Mexico is closely watching Google’s response.
If the tech company does not correct the map label to match international territorial boundaries, a lawsuit could soon follow.
As this situation develops, the diplomatic and legal implications between Mexico, Google, and the U.S. remain uncertain.