VOA常速英语2017--副总统彭斯参加慕尼黑安全会议致辞

The United States "strongly supports NATO and will be unwavering in its commitment to the trans-Atlantic alliance," said Vice¹ President Mike Pence in a speech at the Munich Security Conference.

美国“强烈支持北约，并将毫不动摇地致力于跨大西洋联盟，”美国副总统彭斯(Mike Pence)在慕尼黑安全会议上的讲话中说道。

"But Europe's defense²," he said, "requires your commitment as much as ours. Our trans-Atlantic alliance has at its core two principles that are central to this mission."

“但欧洲的防御能力，”彭斯说，“对你们承诺的需要不亚于我们。我们跨大西洋联盟有2个核心原则，是我们联盟使命的核心。”

In Article Five, alliance members pledge to come to each other's aid in the event of an attack. In Article Three, members vow³ to contribute, maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist attack. "The promise to share the burden of our defense has gone unfulfilled for too many, for too long," said Vice President Pence. "And it erodes⁵ the very foundation of our alliance."

第五条中说，联盟成员国承诺在对方受到攻击时会援助对方。第三条中说，成员国承诺会贡献、维持并发展个人和整体抵御攻击的能力。“分担彼此防御负担的承诺长久以来已经失信过太多次，”彭斯说。“这种情况已经腐蚀了我们的联盟关系。”

In 2014, each member state committed to work towards spending 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense within a decade. But only the United States and four other members are meeting the standard, Mr. Pence said.

2014年，每个成员国都承诺会在10年内将GDP的2%用于国防上。但只有美国和另外4个成员国满足了这个标准，彭斯说。

"Let me be clear on this point: the president of the United States expects our allies to keep their word to fulfill⁴ this commitment, and, for most, that means the time has come to do more," said Mr. Pence.

“我想清楚地阐述一下这一点：美国总统希望我们的盟友能够信守这一承诺，那么对于大多数北约盟国来说就意味着未来要做更多事，”彭斯说。

The rise of adversaries⁶ new and old demands a strong response from NATO, said the Vice President. In the east, NATO has embarked⁷ on improvement in its deterrent⁸ posture⁹ by stationing four combat-ready multinational¹⁰ battalions¹¹ in Poland and the Baltic states. The United States will continue its leadership role in this enhanced forward presence initiative and other critical joint¹² actions.

新老对手的崛起需要北约做出强有力的回应，副总统彭斯说。北约已经着手在东方提升其威慑力，方式是通过在波兰和波罗的海驻扎4支待战状态的跨国军队。美国将继续在履行《增强前沿部署倡议》及其他重要的联合国行动中发挥其领导作用。

With regard to Ukraine, said Vice President Pence, "our alliance will continue to hold Russia accountable and demand that they honor the Minsk Agreements, beginning with de-escalating violence in eastern Ukraine."

提到乌克兰时，副总统彭斯说，“我们之间的联盟将继续向俄罗斯问责，并要求俄方尊重《明斯克协议》，从不要激化乌克兰东部的暴力形势开始。”

At the same time, Vice President Pence urged NATO to adapt to new challenges. In particular, he noted¹³ the need for the alliance "to intensify¹⁴ efforts to cut off terrorist funding and increase cyber capabilities¹⁵."

同时，彭斯敦促北约要适应新挑战。他尤其强调，美国与北约的联盟“要加大力度切断恐怖主义的资金供给，并提升网络能力。”

A stronger NATO means a safer world, and the United States of America looks forward to continuing to work with its partners in NATO to achieve just that.

北约更加强大，世界就会更加安全，美国期待继续与北约伙伴合作实现世界安全的目标。

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

4 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

5 erodes   

侵蚀，腐蚀( erode的第三人称单数 )； 逐渐毁坏，削弱，损害

参考例句：

• The sea erodes the rock. 海水侵蚀岩石。
• The sea erodes the land. 海洋侵蚀陆地。

6 adversaries   

n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• That would cause potential adversaries to recoil from a challenge. 这会迫使潜在的敌人在挑战面前退缩。 来自辞典例句
• Every adversaries are more comfortable with a predictable, coherent America. 就连敌人也会因有可以预料的，始终一致的美国而感到舒服得多。 来自辞典例句

7 embarked   

乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
• She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。

8 deterrent   

n.阻碍物，制止物；adj.威慑的，遏制的

参考例句：

• Large fines act as a deterrent to motorists.高额罚款是对开车的人的制约。
• I put a net over my strawberries as a deterrent to the birds.我在草莓上罩了网，免得鸟歇上去。

9 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

10 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。

11 battalions   

n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍

参考例句：

• God is always on the side of the strongest battalions. 上帝总是帮助强者。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Two battalions were disposed for an attack on the air base. 配置两个营的兵力进攻空军基地。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

13 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

14 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。

15 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓