President Donald Trump recently made a surprising decision to change the names of two important places in the United States: the Gulf of Mexico and Denali, which is Alaska’s tallest mountain. He wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and change Denali back to its old name, Mount McKinley, which was switched by former President Barack Obama in 2015.
Trump believes these name changes will celebrate America’s greatness. He thinks the Gulf of America shows how important the U.S. is to maritime jobs, energy production, trading with other countries, tourism, and fishing. Similarly, he feels that Mount McKinley, named after President William McKinley who was assassinated in 1901, stands for American strength.
Trump’s orders say that Doug Burgum, his pick for Secretary of the Interior, should change federal maps and documents to show these new names. However, these changes won’t be recognized worldwide because each country makes its own decisions about names. The name “Gulf of Mexico” is used in international agreements, and Mexico and Cuba, countries that also border the Gulf, are not required to accept the new name. They might even disagree with it, viewing it as the U.S. trying to take control.
Changing geographical names can lead to arguments. A notable example is the fight between Iran and Saudi Arabia over what to call the body of water between them. Iran calls it the Persian Gulf, while Saudi Arabia prefers the Arabian Gulf. Both names reflect long histories and different identities.
In Asia, there’s a similar dispute between Japan and South Korea over the body of water between them. Japan calls it the Sea of Japan, while South Korea calls it the East Sea. This disagreement is painful for South Koreans because of Japan’s colonization of Korea from 1910 to 1945.
There’s also a fight over what to call the South China Sea, which is important for natural resources and shipping. Different countries, like the Philippines and China, use different names for this area.
If Trump goes through with changing the Gulf’s name, Mexico and Cuba will likely voice their opinions since they have a stake in the matter. International organizations like the United Nations and the International Hydrographic Organization also may pay attention because they help resolve disputes over geographical names.
Environmental groups and those involved in shipping might be concerned too since the Gulf is crucial for fishing and oil production. Consistent names are important for communication and collaboration on these issues.
While Trump can rename the Gulf of Mexico in the U.S., it might create tension with Mexico. This could reopen debates about naming places worldwide, as many factors like history and politics are involved. The reactions of Mexico and international groups will be key to understanding how far-reaching this change could be.
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