President Donald Trump is set to embark on a significant diplomatic journey to the Middle East that could reshape regional dynamics and nomenclature.
According to the New York Post, Trump plans to announce that the United States will officially begin referring to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia next week.
The anticipated name change follows a similar directive earlier this year when Trump ordered the Gulf of Mexico to be called the Gulf of America. Multiple U.S. officials have confirmed this development to the Associated Press, signaling a significant shift in American diplomatic terminology.
Trump's upcoming Middle East tour will include visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates from May 13 to 16. These nations share coastlines along the disputed body of water and have historically advocated for the "Arabian Gulf" designation.
During a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump hinted at an "earth-shattering" announcement. He characterized it as "very positive" and "one of the most important announcements that have been made in many years."
The White House has maintained silence on the matter, declining to respond to requests for comment from various news outlets.
The body of water, which spans nearly 97,000 square miles, has been known as the Persian Gulf since the 16th century. It borders eight nations: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.
Arab nations have been campaigning since the 1960s to rename the waterway. Iran, formerly known as Persia until 1935, possesses more than 1,000 miles of coastline along the gulf and has strongly opposed any name change.
The naming dispute has led to various confrontations. In 2012, Iran threatened legal action against Google for not labeling the body of water on its maps. Additionally, in 2010, Iran warned that airlines referring to it as the "Arabian Gulf" would be denied access to Iranian airspace.
While Trump holds the authority to implement the name change for official U.S. purposes, similar to his Gulf of America directive, the modification cannot be imposed on other nations. Congressional legislation would be necessary to prevent future administrations from reversing the decision.
Currently, different mapping services handle the naming controversy differently. Google Maps uses the dual designation "Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)," while Apple Maps exclusively uses "Persian Gulf."
The Monaco-based International Hydrographic Organization, which serves as the global authority on nautical charts and sea names, continues to use the traditional "Persian Gulf" designation. The United States maintains membership in this organization.
Trump's upcoming Middle East tour marks a crucial moment in U.S. foreign policy and regional relations. The president has suggested that the major announcement could come as early as Thursday, before his departure. The proposed name change represents another significant shift in U.S. diplomatic terminology under Trump's administration, following the earlier redesignation of the Gulf of Mexico. The move is likely to generate both support and opposition from various regional stakeholders, particularly given the historical sensitivities surrounding the waterway's name.
