Margaret Thatcher’s Role in Controversial £42 Billion Arms Deal with Saudi Arabia. Declassified Files

‘A set of declassified documents have revealed former prime minister Margaret Thatcher’s involvement in one of Britain’s biggest and most controversial arms deals. According to the newly released files, the former prime minister met Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd to convince him to purchase fighter jets from British Aerospace rather than France.
Thatcher reportedly made a quick trip to Riyadh on 14 April 1985 to “smoke out the Saudis” and have lunch with the ruler of the country. At the time, Britain was attempting to close the Al-Yamamah deal — a £42bn ($55.3bn) contract with the oil-rich country, to sell them 30 British Hawk and 72 Tornado fighter jets.’
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