Trump to make decision on Arabian Gulf reference soon

President Donald Trump has announced plans to officially change the US government’s terminology for the body of water in the Gulf to “Arabian Gulf” or “Gulf of Arabia.” This decision is expected to be formalised during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.

The US military for years has referred to the Arabian Gulf in statements and images it releases.

While the US military has informally used “Arabian Gulf” in communications for years, and some tech platforms display varying labels, international organisations like the International Hydrographic Organisation maintain neutral naming conventions.

President Trump acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue, stating he would make a final decision during his Middle East visit, emphasising, “I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings.”

This initiative follows a previous controversial attempt by President Trump to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” which led to legal disputes with media organizations over press access and naming rights.