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Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here’s your knowledge nugget for today.
(Relevance: Various locations in the news hold significance, as the UPSC has previously asked questions about these places. In this context, it is important to understand the Gulf of Mexico due to its role in global geopolitics, marine biodiversity, energy resources, and environmental concerns. Additionally, knowledge about its geographical, economic, ecological, and strategic aspects can aid in preparing for topics related to the environment and geography.)
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Sunday to rename the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ as the ‘Gulf of America’ and declared February 9 as the ‘Gulf of America Day’. This announcement follows a pattern of confrontational rhetoric in which Trump has made statements about US neighbours, including threats to take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal. He has also referred to Canada as the “51st state” of the United States.
“We help Mexico a lot, they are essentially run by the cartels… we’re going to change, because we do most of the work there and it’s ours… we’re gonna be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring… and it’s appropriate.”- Trump
1. According to the executive order posted on the White House website, it defines the renamed ‘Gulf of America’ as “the U.S. Continental Shelf area bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba in the area formerly named as the Gulf of Mexico.”
2. The order directs the US Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum to implement it in 30 days and complete the renaming as the official transition. According to reports, the US Coast Guard has already begun using the ‘Gulf of America’ as the renamed version.
3. Earlier, in response to Trump’s statement about the “Gulf of America,” President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum had told reporters that North America should be renamed “Mexican America”. She referenced this name as it appeared on some 17th-century maps. During a briefing, standing in front of old maps displayed on a screen, Sheinbaum remarked sarcastically, “Mexican America—that sounds nice.”
4. According to The New York Times, “The gulf’s name first appeared on maps used by Spanish explorers in the 16th century, well before the founding of the United States. On 8th January, President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico displayed a map from 1607 that included the Gulf of Mexico.”
5. The Associated Press reported that renaming of Gulf of Mexico would not be a “unilateral decision” of the US, and other countries don’t have to agree.
6. John Nyberg, the director of the International Hydrographic Organization, told The NYT there is “no formal international agreement or protocol in place for naming maritime areas”.
1. Bordered by Cuba, Mexico, and the United States, Gulf of Mexico is the world’s largest gulf by surface area. It is also considered the ninth-largest body of water in the world.
2. The Gulf of Mexico connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the Straits of Florida, which run between the Florida peninsula and the island of Cuba. It also connects to the Caribbean Sea via the Yucatán Channel, located between the Yucatán Peninsula and Cuba.
1. The Gulf of Mexico is recognized globally as a vast and productive waterbody with significant ecological and economic value. It is home to one of the world’s most productive marine ecosystems, making it an important global reservoir of biodiversity. Its marine biodiversity supports vital ecosystems and a large sector of the region’s economy.
2. Gulf of Mexico has played a crucial role in shaping the natural heritage, culture, and economy of the five Gulf Coast states and the nation as a whole.
3. Covering over five million acres (approximately half of the U.S. total), the Gulf’s coastal wetlands provide essential habitats for numerous fish and wildlife species. This includes migrating waterfowl (with about 75% of them traversing the U.S.), seabirds, wading birds, furbearers, and both sport and commercial fisheries.
| Why is the Gulf of Mexico important for the United States? |
| The Gulf of Mexico holds vital significance for the US as it is crucial for U.S. energy resources. The government’s Energy Information Administration states: “Gulf of Mexico federal offshore oil production accounts for 14% of total US crude oil production and federal offshore natural gas production in the Gulf accounts for 5% of total US dry production. Over 48% of total US petroleum refining capacity is located along the Gulf coast, as well as 51% of total US natural gas processing plant capacity.” |
1. On January 16, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Donald Trump in a telephone conversation that it was up to Greenlanders to decide their future, according to a report by the BBC. Following a renewed interest being shown by the US President-elect Donald Trump to acquire the Arctic island Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
2. Greenland, part of NATO through the membership of Denmark, has strategic significance for the U.S. military and for its ballistic missile early-warning system since the shortest route from Europe to North America runs via the Arctic island.
3. Greenland is the largest island on Earth. It is situated in the Arctic and is the most sparsely populated territory in the world. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Arctic Ocean on the other. It is home to the northernmost point of land in the world—Kaffeklubben Island.
(Sources: Can Trump rename Gulf of Mexico to ‘Gulf of America’?, Greenland ready to work with Trump on defence, mining ties, says PM, Trump offers to acquire Greenland)
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