President-elect Donald Trump recently made headlines by suggesting renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America,' citing that the new name has a 'beautiful ring to it.' This proposal is part of Trump's pattern of suggesting changes to the map of the Western Hemisphere, including referring to Canada as the '51st State,' urging Denmark to consider ceding Greenland, and calling for Panama to return the Panama Canal.
Trump's interest in renaming the Gulf of Mexico stems from his history of contentious relations with Mexico, particularly on issues such as border security and trade tariffs. The Gulf of Mexico, often dubbed the United States' 'Third Coast' due to its coastline across five southeastern states, holds significance for both Americans and Mexicans, who refer to it as 'El Golfo de México' in Spanish.
However, changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico is not a unilateral decision. The International Hydrographic Organization, of which both the United States and Mexico are members, oversees the standardization of names for seas, oceans, and navigable waters worldwide. While countries may use different names for the same body of water in their own documentation, renaming a landmark or body of water requires a coordinated effort.
Renaming geographical features is not unprecedented. In 2015, then-President Barack Obama approved the renaming of Mount McKinley to Denali, a decision that Trump has expressed interest in reversing. Following Trump's recent comments, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia announced plans to draft legislation to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico.
The Gulf of Mexico has been known by its current name for over four centuries, believed to be derived from a Native American city named 'Mexico.' While proposals to rename the Gulf of Mexico have surfaced in the past, such as a bill in Mississippi in 2012 and a suggestion by comedian Stephen Colbert in 2010, they did not come to fruition.
International disputes over the names of places are not uncommon. For instance, there is an ongoing disagreement among Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Russia over the name of the Sea of Japan. Similarly, the Persian Gulf has been known by that name for centuries, although alternative terms like 'Arabian Gulf' are prevalent in some Middle Eastern countries.
In conclusion, while the idea of renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America' has sparked debate, the process of changing a geographical name involves complex considerations and international cooperation.
