The best explanation for how the causes and effects of the arms race and proxy wars in the Middle East and Africa were similar is:
The arms race and proxy wars in the Middle East and Africa both sought to increase the U.S.’s and Soviet Union’s regional influence through their military supply, which led to increased violence.
This response accurately captures the context of the Cold War, where both the U.S. and the Soviet Union aimed to expand their influence through military support and arms, often leading to heightened conflict and violence in those regions.