Mexico Sues Google Over Gulf of Mexico Renaming Dispute

The Mexican government has filed a lawsuit against Google for renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on its Maps platform for US users, following an executive decree by former US President Donald Trump.

President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed legal action is underway, stating that Mexico is challenging Google's compliance with the order, which affects territorial waters shared by Mexico, the United States, and Cuba. The change, implemented by Google in line with official US designations, sparked immediate diplomatic concerns in Mexico.

Sheinbaum emphasised that Google's labelling should reflect geographic sovereignty, recognising the Gulf of America solely for US waters and preserving the traditional Gulf of Mexico designation for Mexican and Cuban territory.

The dispute traces back to Trump’s controversial decision to rename the historic body of water as part of a nationalistic rebranding effort. The Gulf, a vital maritime zone known by its original name since the 1500s, borders five US states and stretches across international waters.

Despite the order being applicable only within the United States, Mexico’s Foreign Ministry had previously urged Google not to implement the renaming, citing national integrity and regional identity.

As international attention grows, the lawsuit highlights rising tensions between national sovereignty, corporate policy, and digital cartography in the modern geopolitical landscape.