Mexico asks Google Maps not to rename Gulf of Mexico

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has written a letter to Google asking the agency to rethink its choice to rename the Gulf of Mexico.

US President Donald Trump signed an government order requiring the physique of water – which is bordered by the US, Cuba and Mexico – be renamed the Gulf of America in his first week in workplace.

It should solely seem on Google Maps with the brand new title for folks based mostly within the US – elsewhere on the earth it would retain its present title, which has been used for tons of of years.

However Mexico argues the U.S. can’t legally change the Gulf’s title as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Regulation of the Sea dictates that a person nation’s sovereign territory solely extends as much as 12 nautical miles out from the shoreline.

“[The name change] might solely correspond to the 12 nautical miles away from the coastlines of america of America,” Sheinbaum stated.

Google has not but responded to the BBC’s request for remark.

However in a press release on social media on Monday it stated: “We’ve got a longstanding apply of making use of title adjustments after they have been up to date in official authorities sources.”

It should additionally rename Mount Denali as Mount McKinley within the US, following one other order from Trump.

“When official names fluctuate between nations, Maps customers see their official native title,” it stated.

Sheinbaum has criticised Google’s choice, saying the agency shouldn’t reply to “the mandate of a rustic” to alter the title of “a global sea”.

However she appeared to poke enjoyable at Trump’s transfer by joking Mexico could demand Google make some extra renaming selections.

“By the best way, we’re additionally going to ask for Mexican America to seem on the map,” she stated.

Sheinbaum beforehand joked she would think about renaming North America as “América Mexicana” within the nation.

“He says that he’ll name it the Gulf of America on its continental shelf,” Sheinbaum beforehand stated when Trump signed the manager order.

“For us it’s nonetheless the Gulf of Mexico, and for your complete world it’s nonetheless the Gulf of Mexico.”