Mark Thatcher

Mark Thatcher is the son of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He is an established arms dealer with significant connections in the international arms trade, particularly with Chile and South Africa.¹

In 1983, Thatcher introduced Gerald Bull to Gen. Pieter Van Der Westhuizen, chief of South African Defense Force, who then connected Bull with ARMSCOR for his "supergun" project.¹

Thatcher was present at a meeting in Santiago, Chile, in late 1986 with Carlos Cardoen, Robert Gates, Senator John Tower, and Gen. Pieter Van Der Westhuizen, where the U.S. reaffirmed its intention to maintain arms channels to Iraq through South Africa and Chile.¹

Cardoen indicated that Thatcher was involved in his business, and that he had the backing of the Americans and the Chilean government. Thatcher also had business dealings with South Africa for a long time, and was involved in providing military equipment through the Cardoen network to the Iraqis, including nuclear missile projects.¹

In 1988, Ari Ben-Menashe met Thatcher in Santiago, Chile, where Thatcher presented himself as a private businessman with no connection to the British government, despite his mother's position. He expressed admiration for Pinochet and discussed the Falklands War, noting Chile's support for Britain. He also revealed that Cardoen received technology directly from the CIA through Gates's office.¹

Thatcher was involved in the sale of 48 Chieftain tanks to Chile after the Falklands War. He was also linked to Ihsan Barbouti and Sarcis Sargalian in projects supplying Iraq with military equipment. Richard Babayan, a CIA contract agent, also controlled a network providing equipment for Iraq.¹