国家地理:融化的北极正使一场新的冷战升温(4)

In early May, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo traveled to Rovaniemi, the capital of Finland's northernmost province, to deliver a speech to the Arctic Council, a group made up of the eight nations that border the Arctic, plus representatives of the region's indigenous peoples. For about 20 years the council has encouraged collegial debate, cooperation, and a progressive perspective on climate change. Pompeo's appearance, as the emissary of an administration that is opposed to that approach, made for an awkward moment.

五月初，美国国务卿迈克·蓬佩奥来到芬兰最北省份的首府罗瓦涅米，并在北极理事会上发表演讲，北极理事会是由位于北极边界线上的8个国家及当地居民代表组成的一个组织。20多年来，这个组织一直鼓励综合竞争与合作，并用发展的眼光看待气候变化，而作为反对该方法的组织的代表，蓬佩奥的出现使现场变得尴尬。

"This is America's moment to stand up as an Arctic nation and for the Arctic's future," Pompeo declared at an event the night before the official meeting. "Because far from the barren backcountry that many thought it to be... the Arctic is at the forefront of opportunity and abundance."

“为了北极的未来，美国是时候作为一个北极国家站出来了。”蓬佩奥在正式会议开始的前一天晚上声明道。“由于距离遥远，很多人把北极当作重要的机会和资源集聚地。”

The speech signaled the end of a truly bizarre rebranding of the Arctic that has been under way for more than a decade. What was once considered a frozen wasteland is now routinely described as an emerging frontier. The Arctic, in other words, is open for business.

这个演讲标志着过去十几年对北极形象奇怪的重塑行动停止了。它曾一度被当作一块结冰的荒地，而现在它成了即将崛起的新的前沿。也就是说，北极将对商业活动打开大门。