Mexico will take legal action if Google moves forward with renaming the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" for U.S. users on its Maps app. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced this on Monday, explaining that the Mexican government has already reached out to Google once again. She further clarified that former U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order only applies to the U.S. portion of the Gulf's continental shelf.

Mexico's Strong Response

Sheinbaum emphasized that Google has no authority to rename the Gulf of Mexico, as it is shared by Mexico, the U.S., and Cuba. “Google has no right to rename Mexico’s continental shelf, nor does it have any right to rename Cuba’s continental shelf,” she said. Additionally, she pointed out, “Under no circumstances does Mexico accept the renaming of any geographic area that includes part of its national territory.”

Legal Action Looms

The Mexican government is now waiting for a response from Google. If the company does not respond favorably, Mexico will move forward with legal action. "We will wait for Google’s response and, if not, we will proceed in court," Sheinbaum stated. Earlier, she had also suggested the possibility of a civil suit, saying, “If necessary, we will file a civil suit.”

Trump's Order and Sheinbaum's Response

This controversy stems from an executive order signed by Donald Trump on January 20, which sought to rename the Gulf of Mexico for U.S. users. In response, Sheinbaum made a lighthearted comment, joking about renaming the United States as “Mexican America,” referencing a historical map before 1848 when the U.S. captured one-third of Mexico’s land.

Google’s Clarification

In response to the situation, Google confirmed that users in Mexico would continue to see "Gulf of Mexico" on their maps. However, for users in other countries, including the U.S., both names will appear. Furthermore, Google sent a letter to Mexico’s Foreign Minister, Juan Ramon de la Fuente, proposing a “constructive dialogue” to address the issue, including the possibility of a face-to-face meeting.

Apple Follows Suit

Similarly, Apple has complied with Trump’s executive order and renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" for U.S. users of its Maps application. This change aligns with the U.S. government’s directive.

Next Steps for Mexico

Mexico remains firm in its stance on the issue. The government insists that Google cannot alter the name of a geographic area that is part of Mexico’s national territory. As a result, legal action will follow if Google does not reconsider its decision.