Ava Romero
The Gulf of Mexico is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. While no country technically owns the Gulf, the United States, Mexico, and Cuba each control the waters of the Gulf closest to their shores, in accordance with the United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea. In 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to refer to the Gulf as the Gulf of America, sparking controversy and a lawsuit from Mexico against Google for complying with the order.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ownership | No country owns the Gulf of Mexico as it borders the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. |
| Size | The Gulf of Mexico is about 810 nautical miles (1,500 kilometers; 930 miles) wide and has a volume of roughly 2.4 million cubic kilometers (580 thousand cubic miles). |
| Natural resources | The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most important offshore petroleum production regions in the world. In 2018, 581,393,276 barrels of oil and 901,855,447 mcf of gas were produced in the Gulf. In 2019, companies paid 5,281,374,822 to produce natural resources in the Gulf. |
| Name | The Gulf of Mexico was renamed the Gulf of America by former US President Donald Trump. However, this name change has been met with opposition and lawsuits from Mexico and Google has been sued for changing the name on its maps platform. The Gulf has historically had many names, including the "Sea of the North", the "Gulf of Yucatán", and the "Gulf of New Spain". |
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What You'll Learn
- The Gulf of Mexico touches the shores of the United States, Mexico, and Cuba
- No country technically owns the Gulf of Mexico
- The US directly controls the waters of the Gulf of Mexico within 12 nautical miles of its shores
- The Gulf of Mexico is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean
- In 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America
The Gulf of Mexico touches the shores of the United States, Mexico, and Cuba
The Gulf of Mexico is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, bounded by the North American continent. It touches the shores of the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. The Gulf Coast of the United States lies to the northeast, north, and northwest of the Gulf of Mexico, with the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida bordering it. These coastal areas along the Southern US states are often referred to as "the Gulf Coast".
Mexico's coastline spans 2,200 km (1,400 miles) along the Gulf of Mexico, including the states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo. The gulf is connected to the Caribbean Sea via the Yucatán Channel, which runs between Mexico and Cuba.
Cuba has a shorter coastline along the Gulf of Mexico, ranging from 100 to 400 km (60 to 250 miles). The northern land boundary of Cuba borders the Gulf.
While no single country "owns" the Gulf of Mexico, each nation has control over the waters closest to its shores. The United States, Mexico, and Cuba all have exclusive economic zones extending 200 miles offshore, allowing them to manage and exploit natural resources within those areas.
The Gulf of Mexico is a significant body of water for all three countries, offering access to important natural resources and contributing to their economies. It is also a major habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds, with substantial colonies of seabirds wintering along the coasts of Mexico and Cuba.
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No country technically owns the Gulf of Mexico
No country technically "owns" the Gulf of Mexico, as it borders three separate countries: the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. While the United States has direct control over the waters of the Gulf within approximately 12 nautical miles of its shores, it does not have exclusive ownership of the entire body of water.
The Gulf of Mexico is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on its northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States; on its southwest and south by the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo; and on its southeast by Cuba.
Under international law and the United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea, each country with a coastline along the Gulf of Mexico has specific rights and responsibilities regarding the waters that extend a certain distance from their shores. This includes the concept of an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which allows a country to explore, exploit, conserve, and manage the natural resources within a defined area. In the case of the Gulf of Mexico, the United States, Mexico, and Cuba each have their own EEZs, giving them control over a portion of the Gulf's waters for various economic and ecological purposes.
While no single country owns the Gulf of Mexico, there have been disputes over its naming. On January 20, 2025, United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to adopt the name "Gulf of America" for the gulf waters bounded by the U.S. This move was met with opposition from Mexico, which argued that the name “Gulf of America” should only apply to the portion within U.S. jurisdiction. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo announced that Mexico would not recognize the name change and took legal action against Google for complying with the executive order on its maps platform.
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The US directly controls the waters of the Gulf of Mexico within 12 nautical miles of its shores
While no country technically "owns" the Gulf of Mexico, the United States directly controls the waters of the Gulf of Mexico within 12 nautical miles of its shores. This is in accordance with the United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Gulf of Mexico is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on its northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States. The coastal areas along the Southern US states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, which border the Gulf to the north, are often referred to as the "Gulf Coast".
The US government's direct control over the waters of the Gulf of Mexico within 12 nautical miles of its shores allows it to manage and regulate activities within this zone. This includes overseeing maritime traffic, enforcing laws and regulations, and ensuring the safety and security of vessels and personnel within the region. Additionally, the US may also have specific environmental protection measures and natural resource management policies in place for this area.
Furthermore, the US maintains an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that stretches 200 miles offshore, as outlined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Within this EEZ, the US has the exclusive right to explore, exploit, conserve, and manage natural resources. This includes activities such as fishing, oil drilling, and renewable energy development. The EEZ provides the US with significant economic and strategic advantages, allowing it to exploit the rich natural resources of the Gulf of Mexico while also managing and conserving the region's delicate ecological balance.
It is worth noting that Mexico and Cuba also have similar control over portions of the Gulf of Mexico that fall within their respective 12 nautical-mile zones and Exclusive Economic Zones. Each country has jurisdiction and management rights over the waters closest to their shores, ensuring a collaborative and equitable approach to governing this important international body of water. The Gulf of Mexico is a vital waterway for all bordering nations, and its proper management is crucial for regional stability and the preservation of its rich natural resources.
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The Gulf of Mexico is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean
The Gulf of Mexico is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, connected to it through the Straits of Florida between the US and Cuba. It is also connected to the Caribbean Sea via the Yucatán Channel between Mexico and Cuba. The Gulf of Mexico is an oceanic basin that took shape approximately 300 million years ago due to plate tectonics. It is mostly surrounded by the North American continent, with its floor consisting of sedimentary rocks and recent sediments. The Gulf Coast of the United States bounds it on the northeast, north, and northwest, while the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo bound it on the southwest and south. Cuba lies to the southeast of the Gulf.
The Gulf of Mexico is an important offshore petroleum production region, contributing significantly to the United States' total production. It is also crucial for natural resource management, with companies paying billions to produce natural resources in the region. The Gulf's waters and submerged lands are administered by the federal government, and the Office of Natural Resources Revenue collects detailed data on natural resource production in the region.
The name "Gulf of Mexico" has been the most common since the mid-17th century, and it first appeared on a world map in 1550. The name is associated with the ethnonym "Mexica," referring to the Nahuatl-speaking people of the Valley of Mexico, also known as the Aztecs. In Aztec religion, the gulf was called "Chalchiuhtlicueyecatl" or the "House of Chalchiuhtlicue," after the deity of the seas.
In January 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to adopt the name "Gulf of America" for the gulf waters bounded by the US. This move sparked controversy, with Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo announcing that Mexico would not recognize the name change and filing a lawsuit against Google for changing the label on its maps platform.
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In 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America
On January 20, 2025, former US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The executive order, titled "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness", stated that the Gulf had been an "integral asset" to the nation and would continue to play a pivotal role in its future.
The order required the Secretary of the Interior to take action to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. Specifically, the Secretary was instructed to update the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and ensure that all federal references to the Gulf, including on agency maps, contracts, and other documents, reflected its new name.
The Gulf of Mexico is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, bounded by the US states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, as well as Mexico and Cuba. While no country technically "owns" the Gulf, the US, Mexico, and Cuba all have territorial rights over different parts of it. The US has direct control over the waters of the Gulf within approximately 12 nautical miles of its shores and maintains an "Exclusive Economic Zone" extending 200 miles offshore, allowing it to exploit and manage natural resources. Mexico and Cuba have similar control over the waters closer to their shores.
The Gulf is a significant economic resource, with one of the world's most productive fisheries and the second-largest volume of commercial fishing landings by region in the US. It is also a vital region for the US maritime industry and offshore petroleum production, contributing millions of dollars to local economies.
Trump's decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico faced resistance from several countries, including Mexico and the United Kingdom, who stated that they would continue to use the original name. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo wrote a letter to Google, requesting that the company refer to the body of water as 'América Mexicana' instead of "Gulf of America".
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Frequently asked questions
No country technically "owns" the Gulf of Mexico, as it borders the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. However, each country directly controls the waters of the Gulf that are closest to its shores.
The Gulf of Mexico is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent.
The name "Gulf of Mexico" is associated with the ethnonym Mexica, which refers to the Nahuatl-speaking people of the Valley of Mexico, better known as the Aztecs. In Aztec religion, the gulf was called Chalchiuhtlicueyecatl, or "House of Chalchiuhtlicue," after the deity of the seas.
On his first day in office in 2025, former US President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Trump claimed that the new name paid tribute to "a legacy of American greatness." However, the name change only applies to US federal agencies and companies that maintain GPS technology, such as Google Maps, which changed the name for US-based users. Mexico has opposed the name change and sued Google for complying with Trump's order.
