President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to announce a significant change during his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia: the United States will officially refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia. This move, according to two unnamed U.S. officials who spoke to the Associated Press, is a direct response to pressure from Arab nations who have long advocated for this change. Iran, however, maintains its historical connection to the gulf and has previously voiced strong opposition to such a renaming.
This isn’t the first time this issue has sparked controversy. The Persian Gulf, known by that name since the 16th century, has been a point of contention, with many Middle Eastern countries preferring “Arabian Gulf” or “Gulf of Arabia.” In 2012, Iran even threatened legal action against Google over its mapping choices. The U.S. military has also used “Arabian Gulf” in its communications for years, creating a somewhat confusing situation.
The name change has deep historical and cultural significance for Iranians, who view their country’s long history as the Persian Empire as inextricably linked to the region. A previous attempt by Trump to use the term “Arabian Gulf” during his first term led to a sharp rebuke from then-Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who famously quipped that Trump needed a geography lesson. The current move is likely to further inflame tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
While Trump can certainly change the official U.S. designation, it’s important to remember he cannot dictate global usage. The International Hydrographic Organization, a body aiming for consistent global charting and naming, allows for variations in national usage. The situation highlights the complex interplay of geopolitics and nomenclature.
Trump’s decision comes at a time when he is actively seeking closer ties with Gulf nations, particularly regarding financial investments in the U.S. and cooperation on regional conflicts such as the Israel-Hamas war and Iran’s nuclear program. His personal financial interests in these countries also add another layer of complexity to the situation. This isn’t the first time Trump’s attempted a geographical renaming; he also previously attempted to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, a move that led to a First Amendment legal battle with the Associated Press.
This latest attempt to change the name of the Persian Gulf is sure to be met with considerable international debate and could be seen as another example of Trump’s willingness to reshape established norms and conventions to suit his political and economic goals. The long-term consequences of this move remain to be seen, but it’s clearly a significant development in the already complex geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
