O'Malley talks foreign policy in West Des Moines

Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley said Saturday he wants to see the U.S. engage in more collaborative foreign policy, likely to include forming new allies.

The former Maryland governor's words on foreign affairs, including advocacy for a two-state solution for the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict, came as answers to audience questions at a meet-and-greet at Inspired Grounds Cafe in West Des Moines.

"What is in the best interest of Israel's security and the Palestinian people, and the United States of America, is a two-state solution. And however elusive it may seem to us, however many smart people say the time has passed for that sort of reconciliation or that long-term solution, I continue to believe that it is our best hope," O'Malley said.

O'Malley also said he envisions a national security strategy focused on monitoring multiple rising threats before the country is "backed into a corner of whether to put troops on the ground or not."

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"I believe we need a foreign policy of engagement and collaboration with like-minded people around the world. That's going to require new alliances," O'Malley said. "NATO has served us well. We have commitments to NATO, we must honor our commitments to NATO, but there are also other alliances that need to be formed in order to manage events like failed nation states and the rise of sort of these genocidal groups like ISIL."

Some of these new alliances could be in Africa and the South China Sea, O'Malley told reporters after the meet-and-greet.

O'Malley voiced optimism and excitement about the presidential election, though he has remained in third place behind front-runner Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

"I think people are relieved to know that they don't have a binary choice, but they have three options," O'Malley said.

In addition to answering audience questions, O'Malley touted his record as mayor of Baltimore, where he lowered incarceration rates and invested public dollars in education, and his actions as governor, including abolishing the Maryland's death penalty, passing the state's DREAM act to help immigrants afford college, legalizing same-sex marriage in Maryland and reforming the state's gun laws to ban combat assault weapons.

"These were actions, not words," O'Malley said.

About the event

Setting: Meet-and-greet at Inspired Grounds Cafe in West Des Moines.

Crowd: At least 70 people, crowded in the coffeehouse.

Reaction: Audience frequently applauded or cheered as O'Malley spoke, and audience members asked many questions.

What's next: No events are yet scheduled. For details, go to DesMoinesRegister.com/candidatetracker.