Officials announced Monday that Mexico is awaiting a new response from Google regarding its demand to fully restore the name “Gulf of Mexico” on Google Maps before proceeding with legal action.
President Claudia Sheinbaum shared a letter from Cris Turner, Google’s vice president of government affairs and public policy, reaffirming the company’s stance.
According to Turner, Google will not alter its mapping policy, which was adjusted after former U.S. President Donald Trump controversially renamed the body of water the “Gulf of America.”
“We will wait for Google’s response, and if necessary, we will take legal action,” Sheinbaum stated during her morning press conference.
Currently, Google Maps displays the water body as “Gulf of America” within U.S. territory, “Gulf of Mexico” within Mexico, and “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)” in other areas. Turner defended this decision, citing the company’s adherence to “longstanding mapping policies applied consistently across all regions.” He also expressed willingness to meet with Mexican officials to discuss the issue.
Mexico argues that the name change infringes on its sovereignty, as the U.S. controls only about 46% of the Gulf, while Mexico holds 49% and Cuba 5%. The name “Gulf of Mexico” has been in use since 1607 and is recognized by the United Nations.
In a strong rebuttal, Mexican officials declared that under no circumstances would they accept the renaming of a geographic area under their jurisdiction.
The dispute has further strained U.S.-Mexico relations at a time of heightened tensions. Sheinbaum has had to carefully navigate diplomatic ties with Trump amid his threats of tariffs and mass deportations targeting Latin American migrants.
As part of broader diplomatic efforts, Mexico and the U.S. are set to hold high-level meetings this week to discuss trade and security, aiming to sustain long-term cooperation. However, the controversy over the Gulf’s name continues to fuel tensions on both sides of the border.
