美国国防部长马蒂斯出席北约国防部长会议

Mattis at NATO Defense¹ Ministerial

At the recent NATO Defense Ministerial, Secretary of Defense James Mattis observed that “threats to our collective security have not waned², whether terrorism to the south or Russia's aggression³ and hybrid⁴ threats to the east.”

Burden-sharing among alliance members has improved since 2014 when only three nations' military spending was at 2 percent of GDP, noted⁵ Secretary Mattis. Last year saw the largest across-NATO increase in military spending in a quarter century. In 2018, eight nations are already meeting the 2 percent pledge benchmark and more are on track to reach 2 percent by 2024.

In the global fight against ISIS, Secretary Mattis said, “we will continue to carry out operations necessary to crush the physical caliphate and prevent a resurgence⁶ of ISIS-Daesh. We will be unrelenting in our effort. Working with like-minded nations, we will target ISIS around the world, for this remains⁷ a global fight.”

To support these efforts, NATO is transitioning its current activity in Iraq into a sustainable non-combat training mission. In concert with the new Iraqi government, NATO will capitalize on Iraq's success and reinforce their long-term counterterrorism efforts.

In Afghanistan, the security forces continue to improve, said Secretary Mattis. “All six Afghan corps⁸ are deployed⁹ throughout the country, demonstrating Afghan resolve, while the Afghan government pursues a stable and inclusive political order for its people, with NATO's support.”

“For nearly 70 years, the NATO alliance has served to uphold the values and the principles on which our democracies were founded,” said Secretary Mattis. “The American people remain committed to this alliance, and we look forward to working together to sustain our core function, which is the collective defense of our people, while fostering peace and security.”

1 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。

2 waned   

v.衰落( wane的过去式和过去分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• However,my enthusiasm waned.The time I spent at exercises gradually diminished. 然而，我的热情减退了。我在做操上花的时间逐渐减少了。 来自《用法词典》
• The bicycle craze has waned. 自行车热已冷下去了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

4 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

5 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。

6 resurgence   

n.再起，复活，再现

参考例句：

• A resurgence of his grief swept over Nim.悲痛又涌上了尼姆的心头。
• Police say drugs traffickers are behind the resurgence of violence.警方说毒贩是暴力活动重新抬头的罪魁祸首。

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

9 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。