President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” citing its name as having a “beautiful ring to it.” But can he actually do that? The answer is not a simple yes or no, but rather a nuanced exploration of international naming conventions and agreements.
The Gulf of Mexico is widely recognized by both Americans and Mexicans, with both countries referring to it by different names in their official documentation. However, the name has been associated with Mexican culture since its depiction over four centuries ago, likely derived from a Native American city called “Mexico.”
Renaming the Gulf of Mexico would require international agreement, which is unlikely given that other countries have different claims and associations with the body of water. For instance, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Russia are locked in a dispute over the name of the Sea of Japan, while Iran has threatened to sue Google over its naming conventions.
Even though Trump’s suggestion may not be feasible, similar attempts at renaming have come before. In 2012, a Mississippi Legislature member proposed a bill to rename parts of the Gulf of Mexico “Gulf of America,” which did not pass. Comedian Stephen Colbert also joked about the name change following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
In conclusion, while Trump’s plan to rename the Gulf of Mexico is an interesting idea, it is unlikely to become a reality due to international agreements and naming conventions. The issue highlights the complexities of navigating different national interests and cultural associations with geographic names.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/trump-gulf-of-mexico-bc438f4feca1234475a1adef99344da7