Alert: the United States is going for Gulf oil

In his first week as president – for the second time – of the United States, Donald Trump, He signed the decree for the change of name of the Gulf of Mexico, to Gulf of America, movement that although some analysts define as a symbolic act on the surface, in the background could bring with it the intention of expanding the influence on natural resources of said basin, such as oil.

A double intention

Martha Bárcena, former Mexican ex -embassy in the United States, recently pointed out in a forum that this name change could be the first step to begin claiming territory where there is oil. “The exploitation of these resources has contributed significantly to the US energy independence,” said American historian and strategist Peter Zeihan, author of the book “The Accidental Superpower” (the accidental superpower), Who argues that the Gulf of Mexico as part of the EU geography has been fundamental for development as a world power.

Collateral effects

For Octavio Pescador, academic and researcher at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA, for its acronym in English), “Any movement that alters the perception or administration of the Gulf of Mexico could have direct consequences in the EU energy security and in the global oil prices, so I do not think it will happen Nothing out of the ordinary for the change of name of the Gulf (by Trump), ”he said.

Currently, more than 17 percent of the US oil production comes from the Gulf of Mexico, so altering the established dynamics would bring serious consequences to this fundamental resource for its energy independence, in addition that there are defined territorial maritime limits and That the US Congress recognizes for any arbitration, the Maritime International Law that establishes the current agreements.

Therefore, some attempt to exercise unilateral control over the Gulf, It would bring considerable legal and diplomatic challenges, starting with the United Nations Convention regarding the Law of the Sea, which grants guarantees and rights to the coasts of the countries, for up to 200 nautical miles, by virtue of exclusive economic zones (Zee) , in which the respective nations enjoy exclusive rights over economic activities and natural resources.

There is already a reference

Several analysts agree that rename the Gulf is more a media measure that seeks to strengthen Trump’s support bases by endorsing his American supremacy speech, but in the international frame both countries, where each country He tells a river in the border differently; Mexico says Rio Bravo and in the United States they call it Rio Grande and nothing happens.

“This is more media and more to support the current of political thought that Trump represents, it is part of his cultural war,” said Pescador. As part of the Think Tank New America, a foundation dedicated to the analysis of public policies, economy and other issues, among his opinions that of a participant who pointed out that “this type of symbolic gestures are a form of coercive diplomacy. When the Gulf of Mexico renamed, The United States is redefining its role as a global leader, but does it in a way that bothers its allies and neighbors. ”