President Donald Trump is poised to reshape geopolitical nomenclature with a bold move in the Middle East. During his upcoming four-day trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, departing Monday, he is expected to announce that the U.S. will rename the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or Gulf of Arabia. This decision, reported by The Associated Press on Tuesday, signals a clear alignment with certain Arab nations.
As reported by Daily Mail, the announcement will rebrand a body of water historically known as the Persian Gulf since the 16th century. This strategic renaming caters to the preferences of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, which Trump will visit. It reflects a growing trend among some Middle Eastern countries to call it the Arabian Gulf to assert influence over Iran.
Iran, once known as Persia, has fiercely opposed such name changes in the past. In 2012, it threatened legal action against Google for omitting the Persian Gulf’s name on some maps. The renaming could strain already tense U.S.-Iran relations, especially as nuclear talks have resumed.
Trump teased a significant announcement during an Oval Office Q&A with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday. “We’re going to have a very, very big announcement to make,” he said, though it remains unclear if he referred to the gulf renaming. The White House has not confirmed the exact timing of the declaration.
The U.S. military has already adopted the term Arabian Gulf in its statements and photographs. This shift predates Trump’s expected announcement, suggesting a coordinated effort to align with Arab allies. The move underscores a broader strategy to strengthen ties with key Middle Eastern partners.
Trump’s Middle East trip follows his inauguration day proclamation on January 20, when he renamed the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.” The Associated Press refused to adopt this new name in its style guide, prompting Trump to exclude AP reporters from the press pool. This exclusion has sparked ongoing litigation between the White House and the news organization.
The Persian Gulf, situated between Iran and the Arab nations Trump will visit, is a critical geopolitical hotspot. Renaming it could escalate tensions with Iran, which views the Persian Gulf name as a point of national pride. The decision comes as nuclear talks with Iran, restarted after Trump scrapped the Obama-era deal, are set to continue in Oman this weekend.
Trump expressed a complex stance on Iran during a Sunday Meet the Press interview. “I want Iran to be really successful, really great, really fantastic,” he said. However, he emphasized his primary concern: preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“The only thing they can’t have is a nuclear weapon,” Trump continued. He argued that such a weapon could destabilize the world, stating, “I just don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon because the world will be destroyed.” These remarks highlight the delicate balance of his administration’s Iran policy.
The renaming aligns with the preferences of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, which have pushed for the Arabian Gulf moniker. These nations, key U.S. allies, are central to Trump’s Middle East strategy. The move could bolster economic and security partnerships during his visit.
Experts consulted by DailyMail.com speculated that Trump’s teased announcement might involve Saudi investment in the U.S. However, the reported renaming of the Persian Gulf suggests a symbolic gesture to cement alliances. Such a decision prioritizes regional influence over historical precedent.
Trump’s renaming efforts echo his earlier Gulf of America proclamation, which stirred controversy. The Associated Press’s refusal to adopt that name led to retaliatory measures, including barring AP journalists from Air Force One access. This pattern suggests a willingness to challenge media conventions to assert his agenda.
The Persian Gulf renaming could complicate U.S. efforts to stabilize relations with Iran. With nuclear talks resuming in Oman, the announcement risks inflaming diplomatic tensions. Iran’s historical sensitivity to the gulf’s name makes this a high-stakes move.
Trump’s Middle East trip is a critical opportunity to strengthen ties with Arab allies while addressing regional challenges. The renaming decision, if confirmed, will likely dominate discussions during his visits. It underscores his administration’s focus on reshaping global perceptions to favor American and allied interests.
As Trump departs Monday, the world watches how this bold gesture will ripple across the Middle East. His administration’s alignment with Arab nations signals a clear geopolitical strategy. Yet, the potential fallout with Iran looms large, testing the limits of his diplomatic balancing act.
