Gulf of Finland
Mikhail Myagkov, a researcher from Russia’s Presidential Historical Society, has sparked controversy by suggesting that the Gulf of Finland should be renamed the “Gulf of St. Petersburg.”
Myagkov, who is the research director at the Russian Military History Society, proposed this change by drawing inspiration from U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
During a press interaction on Thursday, Myagkov questioned the current name of the gulf, asking, “Why do we call it the Gulf of Finland?” He went on to argue that St. Petersburg, the largest city located on the gulf, would be a more fitting name. He described this renaming as “logical,” suggesting that the title should reflect the prominent city that sits on its shores.
The Gulf of Finland borders three countries—Russia, Finland, and Estonia—and connects to the Baltic Sea. The proposal comes at a time of heightened tensions surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In fact, Estonia’s military revealed last fall that it had been working with Finland on contingency plans to close the gulf to Russian ships if security concerns arose. These geopolitical concerns further complicate the issue, adding a layer of tension to Myagkov’s suggestion.
Despite Myagkov’s reasoning, his proposal has been met with skepticism, even within Russia. Some Russian officials have dismissed the idea, with State Duma lawmaker Yelena Drapeko commenting that it appeared Myagkov’s suggestion was intended as a joke. “Why do we need to copy Trump? We’re serious people, after all,” Drapeko said, implying that the proposal lacked seriousness.
Myagkov’s suggestion draws clear parallels to President Trump’s controversial executive orders issued after his inauguration, one of which sought to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” and another which restored the original name of North America’s highest peak, Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley.
The Russian Military History Society, established in 2012 by presidential decree, has been led by former Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, a staunch supporter of Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
The society has been involved in promoting history textbooks that advocate for a revised view of historical events, particularly regarding Russia’s past.
Myagkov’s remarks came as part of his presentation on a work titled “Swedish and Finnish Russophobia,” highlighting the ongoing tensions and historical disputes in the region.
His proposal to rename the Gulf of Finland, while seemingly rooted in historical context, has been met with mixed reactions both domestically and internationally.
