---
category: Iran-Contra
summary: In 1983, Thatcher introduced Gerald Bull to Gen.
tags:
- Person
- IranContra
- ArmsDealer
- Military
---

[Mark Thatcher](/people/mark-thatcher/) is the son of British Prime Minister [Margaret Thatcher](/people/margaret-thatcher/). He is an established arms dealer with significant connections in the international arms trade, particularly with [Chile](/places/chile/) and [South Africa](/places/south-africa/).[^1]

In 1983, [Thatcher](/people/mark-thatcher/) introduced [Gerald Bull](/people/gerald-bull/) to [Gen. Pieter Van Der Westhuizen](/people/pieter-van-der-westhuizen/), chief of [South African Defense Force](/organizations/south-african-defense-force/), who then connected Bull with [ARMSCOR](/organizations/armscor/) for his "supergun" project.[^1]

[Thatcher](/people/mark-thatcher/) was present at a meeting in [Santiago](/places/santiago/), [Chile](/places/chile/), in late 1986 with [Carlos Cardoen](/people/carlos-cardoen/), [Robert Gates](/people/robert-gates/), Senator [John Tower](/people/john-tower/), and [Gen. Pieter Van Der Westhuizen](/people/pieter-van-der-westhuizen/), where the [U.S.](/places/united-states/) reaffirmed its intention to maintain arms channels to [Iraq](/places/iraq/) through [South Africa](/places/south-africa/) and [Chile](/places/chile/).[^1]

[Cardoen](/people/carlos-cardoen/) indicated that [Thatcher](/people/mark-thatcher/) was involved in his business, and that he had the backing of the [Americans](/places/united-states/) and the Chilean government. [Thatcher](/people/mark-thatcher/) also had business dealings with [South Africa](/places/south-africa/) for a long time, and was involved in providing military equipment through the [Cardoen](/people/carlos-cardoen/) network to the [Iraqis](/places/iraq/), including nuclear missile projects.[^1]

In 1988, [Ari Ben-Menashe](/people/ari-ben-menashe/) met [Thatcher](/people/mark-thatcher/) in [Santiago](/places/santiago/), [Chile](/places/chile/), where [Thatcher](/people/mark-thatcher/) presented himself as a private businessman with no connection to the British government, despite his mother's position. He expressed admiration for [Pinochet](/people/augusto-pinochet/) and discussed the Falklands War, noting [Chile](/places/chile/)'s support for [Britain](/places/united-kingdom/). He also revealed that [Cardoen](/people/carlos-cardoen/) received technology directly from the [CIA](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/) through [Gates's](/people/robert-gates/) office.[^1]

[Thatcher](/people/mark-thatcher/) was involved in the sale of 48 Chieftain tanks to [Chile](/places/chile/) after the Falklands War. He was also linked to [Ihsan Barbouti](/people/ihsan-barbouti/) and [Sarcis Sargalian](/people/sarcis-sargalian/) in projects supplying [Iraq](/places/iraq/) with military equipment. [Richard Babayan](/people/richard-babayan/), a [CIA](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/) contract agent, also controlled a network providing equipment for [Iraq](/places/iraq/).[^1]

[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992.