Recently, the possibility of changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico has emerged, proposing to rename it as "Gulf of America". This comment, backed by the idea that this change could be driven by a law, generated a public debate.
The proposal received an immediate response from the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum. Armed with an old map from 1607 showing a territorial division between Mexico and the United States, she suggested that instead of "Gulf of America", an option could be to call it "Mexican America". This raises the question of the real possibility that a political figure, like Donald Trump, could effect such a change.
The Gulf of Mexico is a crucial region in terms of trade, biodiversity, and oil production. With more than 1.6 million square kilometers in extent, it has been vital for Mexico and the United States in the extraction of natural resources. Over the centuries, its name has prevailed since European maps of the 16th century.
Although there are mechanisms in the United States to modify geographic names at the federal level, any change to the Gulf of Mexico would require the consent of Mexico and Cuba, countries with which it shares this body of water. International bodies such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the International Hydrographic Organization regulate geographic nomenclature in this region.
Since its inception as "Bay of Mexico" in the 16th century, the name evolved to consolidate as "Gulf of Mexico". While a name change is possible at the internal level in the United States, for it to be recognized internationally, it would require the approval of all involved countries and should be reflected in official maps and nautical charts. In conclusion, changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico is not a simple task and poses challenges both nationally and internationally.
