Mexico has initiated legal action against Google for rebranding the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on Google Maps, as stated by President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday.
Sheinbaum confirmed that the lawsuit has been filed, although she did not specify the timing of this legal move during a morning press conference.
On Thursday, House Republicans passed legislation formalizing Donald Trump’s initiative to rename the Gulf of Mexico.
This bill, brought forth by Georgia Senator Marjorie Taylor Greene, largely followed party lines during the voting process.
The legislation aims to officially alter the names of federal agencies, but it’s expected to face significant hurdles in the Senate, particularly in garnering bipartisan support. Moreover, other countries aren’t bound to adopt this new name.
In February, Sheinbaum had warned Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet, about the potential for legal action if it did not reverse its decision.
The Mexican government contends that Trump’s executive order pertains only to sections of the continental shelf under U.S. jurisdiction.
Sheinbaum expressed a desire for compliance with U.S. governmental orders, emphasizing that the U.S. does not hold the authority to designate names for the entire bay, suggesting that only certain areas should be referred to as the U.S. Gulf.
In a response to Trump’s actions, Sheinbaum mentioned the idea of renaming America as “Amaica Mexicana,” referencing historical context where a significant portion of Mexico was lost to the United States prior to 1848.
Countries in the region are currently engaging in discussions aimed at reducing tensions stemming from Trump’s global trade policies, which have included various tariffs targeting Mexico.
