President Donald Trump is expected to announce during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia that he is renaming the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia, according to two officials.
The name change has been a long-standing point of contention as Arab nations advocated for an alternative to the historic term favoured by Iran, which regards the Gulf as part of its natural heritage. Usage of "Arabian Gulf" and "Gulf of Arabia" is common in several Middle Eastern countries though the nomenclature 'Persian Gulf' has been prevalent since the 16th century.
Due to the delicate politican nature of the situation, the US officials who leaked Trump's plans spoke under the condition of anonymity. The White House and National Security Council have refused to comment on the leaks
The area's naming rights have long been a point of contention in the Middle East. The Iranian government, also known historically as Persia, even considered legal action against Google in 2012 for failing to label the water body on its mapping services.
In the United States, Google Maps designates the region as Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf), while Apple Maps uses the singular term Persian Gulf.
It is worth remembering, while President Trump may alter the designation for official use within the United States, his influence does not extend to how people around the world refer to the Gulf.
As a member of the International Hydrographic Organization, the United States collaborates to ensure the standardised mapping of the world's oceans, seas, and navigable waters, including assigning names to various bodies of water. However, different countries may use distinct names for the same geographical features in their official documents.
But it does follow a new obsession for the president, who has taken to renaming mountains and army bases in the first five months of his term, even changing the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
Trump’s itinerary isn't just limited to Saudi Arabia; he's also scheduled to touch down in Doha, Qatar, as well as Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, both of which are situated along the key body of water.
What was initially set to be Trump’s first international voyage since his presidential commencement on 20 January, has now become an effort to woo Gulf nations, with Trump eyeing their fiscal investment stateside and support concerning regional turmoil – from ironing out the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza to reining in Iran’s burgeoning nuclear agenda.
As president, Trump has maintained ownership of his personal businesses, which have significant financial ties to these countries.
