Obligation

Welcome to the Voice of America’s News Words.

Listen to President Barack Obama speaking about NATO and the Ukraine crisis.

As NATO allies, we will meet our solemn duty, our Article 5 obligation to our collective defense.

And today I want every Estonian, and Latvian and Lithuanian to know that you will never stand alone.

Obligation.

An obligation is a promise.

It is something one must do because of a law, a rule or because it is morally right.

President Obama talks about NATO members’ promise to defend each other.

Russia took over part of Ukraine.

Now Obama says NATO will help defend the nearby countries.

Now, the next time you hear the word, obligation, you will know what this News Word means.