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Gulf of Mexico: Politics and Government

Asked by Martin WrigleyLiberal DemocratForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled Answered 30 April 2025UIN 46247

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2025 to Question 26627 on Gulf of Mexico: Politics and Government, what terminology his Department plans to use in international documents when referring to the Gulf of Mexico.

Answered by Catherine West

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will continue to follow the guidance of the Permanent Committee on Geographical Names (PCGN) who advises His Majesty's Government on policies and procedures for the representation of geographical names for places and features outside the UK, excluding those of the Antarctic. For names of international maritime features beyond any sovereignty, PCGN usually advises reflecting the common English conventional name, which for this body of water is the 'Gulf of Mexico'.

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