On February 28, 1997, Turkey's military exerted its longstanding influence over civilian governance through a memorandum issued during a National Security Council meeting. Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan's Islamic-oriented coalition faced mounting pressure as the memorandum outlined various expectations from the government, including measures against rising Islamism, promotion of secularism, and constraints on religious-related activities in public spaces. The military's progressive intervention highlighted the ongoing struggle between secularism and political Islam in Turkey, drawing from the secularist principles established by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in the early 20th century.

Amid increasing tensions, the army, historically seen as the guardian of the secular state, refused to tolerate what was perceived as a drift towards Islamic governance. The Council's ultimatum effectively led to Erbakan being forced to resign on June 18, 1997. Following this political upheaval, a more secular center-right coalition government was established, led by Mesut Yılmaz. This event significantly altered Turkey's political landscape and demonstrated the military's role as a principal actor in safeguarding secularism against perceived religious encroachment.

The memorandum and its ramifications marked not only a turning point in the political dynamics in Turkey but also fueled debates about the military's role in politics, the boundaries of democracy, and the state of civil-military relations. This confrontation underlined the deep-rooted tensions between secularism and Islamism that continue to influence Turkish politics into the 21st century.