WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is expected to announce that the United States will refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf during his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia next week, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to the Associated Press on Tuesday.
Arab nations have been advocating for a change in the name of the body of water located off the southern coast of Iran, while Iran itself maintains historical connections to the Gulf.
Officials discussed these sensitive topics under the condition of anonymity. There was no immediate response from the White House or the National Security Council to requests for comments.
The name “Persian Gulf” has been widely used since the 16th century, but many Middle Eastern countries predominantly use the terms “Arabian Gulf” or “Arabian Gulf.” In 2012, the Iranian government, which was once known as Persia, even threatened to sue Google for not labeling any water bodies on their maps at all.
On Google Maps in the U.S., the body of water appears as the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf), while Apple Maps simply identifies it as the Persian Gulf.
Trump can designate the new name for official U.S. usage, but he cannot control what names are utilized outside the country.
The international organization responsible for waterways, which includes the United States as a member, aims to ensure that all oceans and navigable waters are uniformly surveyed and mapped. Countries may refer to the same bodies of water with different names in their own documents.
In addition to Saudi Arabia, Trump’s trip will also take him to Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE capital. Initially, this trip was intended to be his first since taking office on January 20th, focusing on attracting financial investment back to the U.S. and collaborating with Gulf nations on various regional issues, including the Gaza conflict and Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump has significant economic connections with the region through his business ventures.
This announcement follows a recent statement from Trump indicating that the U.S. would refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
Earlier this year, the Associated Press filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after journalists were barred from covering many events due to the White House not adhering to a ruling that would prevent the president’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “American Gulf” in the U.S.
Last month, U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden, who was appointed by Trump, ruled that the First Amendment protects the Associated Press from government retaliation for its choice of language and ordered that the outlet’s access be reinstated.
