International food trade is widely recognized as a crucial mechanism for ensuring global food security. However, its impacts on food security remain a topic of ongoing debate and warrant further exploration. Therefore, this study examined the spatial and temporal patterns of international food trade's role in ensuring food security for countries facing domestic food shortages. First, it was confirmed that the global food crisis was not caused by food production scarcity; the international food trade distribution inequity in the context of free trade may be the key factor in food insecurity. Second, the results revealed that international soybean trade contributed more than the other three international food trades in ensuring food security in the past 60 years, with the average ratios of trade amount to domestic shortages of rice, wheat, maize, and soybean being 84%, 96%, 92%, and 100%, respectively. Third, spatial heterogeneity was found in the role that international food trade played in ensuring food security. Almost all countries with domestic food shortages have alleviated the dilemma of food shortfall through international food trade, but some countries were still faced with the predicament, particularly some low- and medium-income countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America, where the situation of food shortages deepened after participating in food trade activities. Addressing global food security requires equitable trade policies, strengthened antitrust regulations to curb transnational corporations’ dominance, and sustainable agricultural practices to enhance food distribution. Additionally, mitigating speculative activities, reassessing biofuel policies, and reducing food loss and waste are essential for fostering a more resilient global food system. This study offers insights into contemporary debates surrounding international food trade, underscoring the need for comprehensive policies and better programs across all sectors to facilitate food trading and promote global food security.