President Trump, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, plans to officially rename the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia, according to two U.S. officials who addressed this issue on condition of anonymity. This is a move that adheres more to diplomatic maneuvering than factual correctness.
The Persian Gulf has been recognized by that moniker since the 16th century. The Iranian government, consistently citing historical ties, has pushed back against the Arab nations’ advocacy for a name change. Even in the face of threats to sue Google in 2012 for not labeling the body of water on its maps, the technology giant maintained neutrality by not choosing a side.
Now, let’s say that this renaming is allowed to proceed. The U.S. military has been unilaterally referring to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf in its statements and images for years. Yet, this doesn’t change the fact that the name ‘Persian Gulf’ is rooted in centuries of historical precedents. The idea that a region can be renamed for political convenience is not just factually inaccurate, it’s fundamentally flawed.
This renaming controversy isn’t just about geography; it’s about national identity. Iranians, proud of their country’s history as the Persian Empire, have found Trump’s Arabian Gulf terminology inflammatory. The left will tell you that this is a simple matter of respecting cultural sensitivities, but let’s examine the facts. The International Hydrographic Organization, in charge of ensuring uniform naming of the world’s seas, oceans, and navigable waters, has not officially recognised this change. Consequently, Trump can change the name for U.S. official purposes, but he can’t dictate what the rest of the world calls it.
The U.S. president has significant business interests in Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Not to mention the strategic alliances he wishes to strengthen in light of regional conflicts and investment needs. The problem, fundamentally, is the blurring of personal interests with official diplomatic relations.
Interestingly, this isn’t Trump’s first attempt at geographical revisionism. Several months ago, he announced his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. This led to a legal spat with the Associated Press, ending in a court ruling that affirmed the First Amendment protection of the news organization from government retaliation over its choice of words.
In conclusion, if we allow political motivations and personal interests to dictate the terminology we use, we’re paving the way for a world where facts are secondary. We’re undermining the historical, cultural, and factual accuracy that should be at the heart of naming conventions.
