President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico. It was a decision that did not sit well with the Mexican government.
The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, stood firmly behind the statement that Trump can call the body of water whatever he wants but for the American part only.
“He says that he will call it the ‘Gulf of America’ on its continental shelf. For us it is still the Gulf of Mexico and for the entire world it is still the Gulf of Mexico,” Sheinbaum said on Tuesday, January 21, as reported by the Associated Press.
Trump shared the idea about changing the name of the body of water before taking office. He said it felt “appropriate.”
“We’re going to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America — it has a beautiful ring to it. That covers a lot of territory,” he declared on January 7. “The Gulf of America, what a beautiful name.”
He introduced the name change during his inauguration speech, which drew laughter from Hillary Clinton. Later that day, he signed an executive order making it official.
According to the White House, the order stated:
“The area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico has long been an integral asset to our once burgeoning nation and remains an indelible part of America.”
The order emphasized the Gulf’s significance:
“The Gulf will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping America’s future and the global economy. In recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical importance to our nation’s economy and its people, I am directing that it officially be renamed the Gulf of America.”
Shared by the United States, Mexico, and Cuba, the Gulf is a vital resource for fishing, oil production, and international trade.
The first time Trump mentioned the idea of the name change, Sheinbaum responded with sarcasm. She proposed to rename North America to “América Mexicana” or “Mexican America.”
The renaming of the Gulf of Mexico would likely require significant diplomatic negotiations, as it involves shared territorial waters and agreements under international law.
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